Business owners Gary Vincent, second left, and Tim Ford, second right, say the fuel they produce is environmentally friendly because it is made from waste cooking oil and none edible Jatropha oil — and not crops that could otherwise be used as food.

Said Tim: "People think of biodiesel's effects on food prices and we like to think this is a good solution.

"We are very excited about the Jatropha oil we are going to use — it grows around the equator on barren land that cannot be used for food crops.

"But after a couple of seasons of the leaves shedding it creates its own topsoil, making the land usable for other types of crop. It's a fantastic plant."

The new facility will produce up to 4,000 litres of biodiesel a day, which will be supplied to road haulage and coach firms.

Coun Allsop, portfolio holder for regeneration, said she was pleased she could help the firm find premises at the Crown Farm Industrial Estate.

She said: "It's fantastic to have a such a forward looking business here in Mansfield. Biodiesel is the thing of the future and I know De-Ord are already looking to expand."

Also pictured are Bank of Scotland's business development managers Craig Savage and Lindsay Angus.