London and other regions are understood to be looking at ways to curb emissions from diesel cars, including introducing extra charges, in efforts comply with clean air rules from Europe.

London mayor Boris Johnson has drawn up plans to charge diesel drivers an extra £10 to enter central London and will lobby government to encourage motorists to switch to greener vehicles, it has emerged.

The scheme is part of an ‘air quality manifesto’ that the mayor of London will launch today according to the Times, and follows heavy criticism of air quality in the capital from London Assembly Members and academics.

It is also part of wider efforts across the country to curb emissions from diesel cars in efforts to comply with clean air rules from Europe.

Recent analysis by King’s College London suggests Oxford Street has the highest levels of toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions - linked with asthma and heart attacks - anywhere in the world. These emissions are released by diesel cars.

Green Party London Assembly Member, Jenny Jones, recently criticised the mayor, stating ‘delays and dithering on combating air pollution in London means not only more people will die prematurely or be seriously affected, but visitors and tourists could now be deterred from visiting Oxford Street’.

Britain now faces the threat of heavy EU fines for breaching air pollution limits, after the European Commission launched legal proceedings in February.

Mr Johnson is expected to say his air quality manifesto will take London two thirds of the way to compliance with EU standards and will call on the Government and the Commission to support him in the final push.

Labour is also planning tough measures on emissions the Times reports, including a network of low emissions zones to force out older more toxic engines. Sheffield, Leicester, Bradford, Birmingham, Bristol and 15 other cities with poor air quality are also reported to be considering introducing low emissions zones.