A £1 million fund has been announced by the government in an effort to support projects designed to reduce emissions resulting from road transport.

Local authorities across England will be eligible to access the funding, which has been committed as part of the Air Quality Grant Programme and unveiled yesterday (July 9th).

Projects that aim to tackle the level of nitrogen dioxide levels in the air and mitigate emissions from buses and cars will be supported by the cash. It is currently estimated that around one quarter of carbon dioxide produced domestically comes from road vehicles.

Environment minister Dan Rogerson said: "Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades and local authorities play a vital role - this funding will allow them to continue their good work."

A new grant programme is announced each year and projects supported in 2013/14 included the introduction of 20mph restricted zones in Cambridge, a cycling scheme in Chichester and a feasibility study into alternative road layouts and HGV routes in north Hertfordshire.