Local buses in towns and cities across England are getting £5million to cut pollution.

Local authorities will be able to bid for grants of up to £1 million from the Department for Transport’s Clean Bus Technology Fund. The cash will go towards upgrading existing buses with cleaner engines or exhaust after-treatment equipment.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “This £5 million scheme will help clean up emissions from older buses in some of our most polluted urban areas. It will lead to real improvements in air quality on some of our more polluted streets, as well as helping stimulate jobs and growth in the bus and retrofit industries.”

The scheme follows last month’s £12 million funding for 213 new low carbon buses in the latest round of the Green Bus Fund.