OXFORD is one of six European cities aiming to ban all but zero and low emissions vehicles from some areas. Under the initiative, launched at the transport and environment seminar in Chester, Oxford, Athens, Florence, Barcelona, Lisbon, Stockholm and Oslo will aim to limit use of polluting vehicles from a suggested target date of 2001.

The hope is that other European cities will follow, creating a demand for low and zero emissions vehicles. Organisers believe that 100 cities would need to take part in order to send a message to vehicle manufacturers that demand will be great enough to justify mass production.

Rhonda Riachi, chairman of Oxford's Health and Environment Committee, said: 'ALTER (Alternative Traffic in Towns) is our chance to make not just a national impact, but an international one too. If we combine the expertise and resources of local government, manufacturers, national government and the European Parliament than we can really make changes.'