Northern regions cut more emissions than southern parts of England, new figures from DECC have shown. Tied at the top of the tree was Yorkshire & Humber and the North East, both with an 18% slash in emissions between 2005 and 2009. Greater London fared the worst, only cutting emissions by 13%.

The national average for England was a 16% cut in emissions. This was achieved in the West Midlands.

But even within these regions there is a vast gap between some towns, which could suggest a discrepancy between local councils’ strategies to lower emissions.

But DECC states that “It is not a case of best or worst” because each authority “will have its own circumstances, particularly with regards industrial and commercial activity.”

It added the figures were intended as a resource for local and regional bodies to draw on in developing local policies to tackle carbon emissions.

The national average carbon cut per head, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, was 15%.