Diesel cars in 20% sale fall

DEMAND for new diesel cars in the UK fell by a fifth last month, amid concerns over air pollution.

About 81,500 diesels were registered, down 20% on the same month last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It represents a fall in market share from 50% to 43.7%.

Air pollution is linked to 40,000 early deaths a year.

Jim Holder, editor of What Car? magazine, said he was surprised by “the scale of the drop-off ”.