BOC has confirmed it has delivered the first liquid hydrogen tank to the site in Hornchurch, Essex where the country's first hydrogen refuelling station is set to be built.

Building at the site has been ongoing since November, with the station expected to be ready and operational by early February.

The station will be used to refuel the three hydrogen fuel cell buses that currently operate in London under the EU-financed Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) scheme.

CUTE is a two-year trial of the eco-friendly, zero-emission hydrogen technology involving nine European cities and a number of leading fuel and automotive companies, including DaimlerChrysler and BP.

The scheme is designed to precipitate the creation of a sustainable hydrogen economy across Europe through the development of a sustainable, fuel cell driven transport infrastructure.