Oxford has announced plans to ban all polluting vehicles in the city centre as it hopes to introduce the world’s first zero-emission zone.

Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council proposes to ban diesel and petrol vehicles in phases, starting with taxis, cars, light commercial vehicles and buses on a small number of streets in 2020.

As vehicle technology develops, the zero-emission zone would extend to all vehicle types across the whole city centre by 2035.

Oxford city centre currently has illegally high levels of toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which contributes to diseases and contributes to around 40,000 deaths in the UK every year.

The introduction of the zone is expected to reduce NO2 levels in George Street by 74% by 2035.

The councils are seeking responses from local residents, businesses and fleet operators to help shape the final scheme, expected to be published nex year.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is also preparing to introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone in September 2020.