Few people would attempt to drive almost 1,500 miles across Europe in an 18-year-old banger that had covered more than 300,000 miles.

But Ben Mayo has done just that and, to cap it all, covered every mile using chip fat as fuel.

Mr Mayo, 24, who works for alternative fuels company Regenatec, based at Milton Park, near Didcot, took part in the Grease to Greece challenge, which involved vehicles completing a trip from London to Athens without using fossil fuel. Along the way, he and co-driver, brother Tom, 21, had to convince owners of restaurants, takeaways and hotels to part with their waste cooking oil, which was then poured into their specially converted Audi 80. Mr Mayo said: "It was a complete success.

"We were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to pick up fuel.

"We developed an eye for the sort of small restaurants who would have used oil and once we convinced the owners that we would not charge them for taking it away, we were able to fill our tank and take some in reserve.

"We drove across Europe without spending a penny on fuel and were also completely carbon neutral. I don't think many people can claim to have done that."

The highlight of the trip for Mr Mayo was a cruise around the world-famous Nurburgring race circuit in Germany, although he admits he never got above a "relaxed" speed. However, the expedition was not without its complications, as the car started to overheat as it neared Athens and the duo had to keep stopping to allow it to cool down.

And Mr Mayo admitted that filling up with used vegetable oil does have a few drawbacks. "You can ended up covered in chip fat," he said. "My girlfriend was going to come, but as soon as she saw the state of my washing, she was glad she did not!" Ten cars took part in the two-week challenge through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Macedonia and, finally, Greece.