The Scottish Greens have slammed both the UK and Scottish Governments over their failure to meet EU limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

Environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell hit out at Ministers after it was revealed the European Commission is taking the British Government to court for its long-standing failure on breaching EU air quality rules.

In 2016, levels of NO2 - largely from car exhaust fumes - peaked as high as 102 microgrammes per cubic metre of air in 16 locations across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow, compared to an EU limit of 40 microgrammes.

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Mr Ruskell said: "This is as much Scotland's failure as the UK's.

"There are dozens of towns and cities in Scotland where clean quality standards are being broken because of years of inaction; lives are being shortened as a result.

"It's time for ambitious action including strong Low Emission Zones that exclude polluting vehicles and an end to planning decisions that worsen traffic congestion and air quality. This ruling underlines the importance of the European Court in holding governments to account when they fail to act in the interests of people and the environment.

"So far both the UK and Scottish Government's have not come up with a viable alternative to the ECJ that has the teeth to protect the environment and health in the face of government inaction.”

(LM/MH)