BP has confirmed that work has begun on a new hydrogen refuelling station in the Essex town of Hornchurch for clean fuel cell buses operating between London and Ilford.

The project to provide the green public transport with clean fuel has now been granted approval by the government planning inspector after it was initially rejected by Havering Council due to fears over the potential dangers of hydrogen storage.

But despite local community opposition to the clean transport scheme, government officials have overridden concerns, claiming the long-term benefits of reducing CO₂ emissions is paramount.

And now the project, which was submitted by BP as part of the EU-wide Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) initiative, has been given the green light.

BT has said it hopes to have the station up and running by February next year, with three buses operating routes in central London being refuelled in Hornchurch at the end of every day.