Mayor of London Boris Johnson has backed government plans to remove the most polluting diesel cars from the capital's roads.

The​ proposal will award drivers with a cash incentive to scrap diesel cars and switch to cleaner vehicles, in a bid to address air pollution.

Drivers will be offered a £1,000 to £2,000 grant per car, if the vehicle is deemed hazardous and older than 12 months. 

Speaking to the Environmental Audit Committee, Johnson revealed the removal of diesel cars from the roads is part of wider plans to introduce an Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in central London.

The ULEZ is due to be finalised in October. It would take London two-thirds of the way to being compliant with EU limit values on toxic gases.

There are proposals for Low Emission Neighbourhoods to be introduced that will introduce zero-emission buses and taxis to keep polution down. 

Mr Johnson said: "I hope the committee can see we are doing everything in our power to address air quality. Our efforts have already been recognised in a newly published study ranking London's air quality ninth out of 35 in the world."