The first commercial flight powered partly by biofuel has taken off from Heathrow.

The plane - a Virgin Atlantic jumbo headed to Amsterdam - had one of its four engines running on fuel created from Brazilian babaussu nuts and coconuts.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said the flight marked a "vital breakthrough" for green airlines but environmentalists branded it a publicity stunt, saying biofuel cultivation is not susutainable.

The Virgin Boeing 747 flew without passengers.

The "green engine" was supplied with fuel from a separate tank and provided 20 per cent of the plane's power.

The remaining three engines were capable of flying the airliner safely if there was a problem with the new fuel.