The UK Government is to reportedly announce a diesel scrappage scheme in the next few days.

According to The Times, Environment Secretary Michael Gove will unveil a “very, very targeted scheme” to encourage motorists to give up their polluting diesel cars in favour of greener vehicles.

The Department for Food, Environment & Rural Affairs’ (Defra) draft air quality proposals, published ahead of the general election, didn’t include plans for a scrappage initiative for all diesel cars but instead stated it was considering a “targeted” scheme to get older vehicles off the road.

Reports claim the diesel scrappage scheme – originally believed to cost £500 million – has “evolved significantly” and is expected to cost the taxpayer less than expected.

It’s also been reported Mr Gove wants new tests for the toxicity of diesels as he believes current EU lab rules allow carmakers to “cheat the system”.

The news comes ahead of the deadline for Defra to produce the final revised air quality plan to tackle pollution in the country.