With an intent to reduce air pollution, London has announced a low emission zone under which extra charge will be collected from drivers of most polluting cars.

The new zone will be launched from April 8, 2019. The  most polluting cars, vans and motorbikes will have to pay 12.50 pounds to drive through central London, while buses, coaches and HGVs will pay 100 pounds.

These measures are expected to result in a 50 per cent drop in emissions by 2020. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that the air in London is lethal and urged the government to take steps to transform the appalling air that they breathe.

The mayor has made the announcement of the low emission zone in good time so that business and those affected by new charges will have time to make changes they need to adapt to their low emission requirements.

The new charge that will come into force in 2019 will replace the  "toxicity charge", which will be collected from October this year, under which pre-2006 diesel and petrol vehicles will have to pay an extra 10-pound charge when they enter central London during peak times.

The ultra-low emission zone is an area within which all  vehicles will need to meet exhaust emission standards or pay a daily charge to travel.