Amsterdam city council is to start refusing to give parking permits to polluting cars and vans from mid-2014.

Motorists who currently have a permit will not be affected but if they change their cars for one considered to break the norms, the licence will be withdrawn.

The ban will affect diesel vehicles built before January 1, 2005 and cars built before July 1992, the city council said. The aim is to improve air quality in the city.

The council is also considering giving grants of up to €1,000 to motorists who agree to get rid of their old, polluting vehicles.