Drivers could find their petrol bills slashed thanks to an invention to reduce emissions and make cars more efficient.

After two and a half years of testing, Powerplus of St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, has launched a product it claims could reduce driver's fuel costs by ten per cent.

Operations director Andrew Niekirk, from Eastbourne, explained how the product, also called Powerplus worked.

He said: "It's a small, steel tubular cylinder which fits in the fuel line of any vehicle. It encourages the engine to burn a far higher proportion of the fuel in the combustion chamber, resulting in far less fuel being used for the same power."

Mr Niekirk said more fuel burnt up in the engine meant less harmful emissions pumped into the environment.

He said the product was unique and research carried out by the company showed the output of harmful pollutants would drop by an average of 52 per cent for each vehicle.

He said: "It's a win-win situation and a good way of getting people to take an environmental stance."

The product costs between £80 to £300, depending on engine size, and is available from the company's offices.

For details, log on to the company's web site at www.powerplus.be