A massive clean-up operation to save the Gulf of Mexico from catastrophe has been organised by a Brighton-based technology company.

Ultra Green International is mobilising a flotilla of 168 American fishing boats which will tow material that can soak up the crude oil currently spewing into the ocean following the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The first is due to set sail on July 4 – the American Day of Independence.

The operation - dubbed the “People's Clean-up Navy” by the volunteer fishermen - is being supported by an international team of 237 eminent scientists, engineers and logistics experts.

Antony Blakey, executive chairman of UGI, has spearheaded the project and is in daily contact with officials from the White House.

He believes the majority of the spillage will be cleared in just six weeks.

Mr Blakey and his 25-strong team in Brighton have barely slept in the 11 days since they discovered that one its innovations could be adapted to soak up oil.

The special membrane was developed by US-based Algaeventure Systems (AVS) and formed part of a machine designed by UGI scientists that can produce biofuel from algae.

It acts in the same way as blotting paper and when tested on samples from the Gulf the results were “phenomenal”, according to Mr Blakey.

In just over a week UGI and its team of experts have designed a platform which features a 21-metre roll of the membrane that can be installed on locally-based fishing boats and soak up at least 25,000 gallons of oil a day.

On June 17, the technology was demonstrated successfully before scientists from BP and representatives of the US Department of Energy.

Park Ohio Inc, one of the US's largest manufacturing companies, then agreed to set aside a massive computer-driven robotic production plant to build the platforms before they are flown by Chinook helicopter to the Gulf.

Mr Blakey is “110% confident” the plan will work.

For more information, visit www.SOSsavethegulfcoast.com.