EUROPEAN proposals to ban petrol and diesel cars from city centres by 2050 have been described as “grandiose nonsense” by a Bolton Euro MP.

The European Parliament has said its proposals will break the transport system's dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility.

Paul Nuttall, the North West UKIP MEP, said: “This is plainly ridiculous and shows just how out of touch with reality this organisation is.

“I am very pleased that Transport minister Norman Baker has said that the UK will not be going along with this plan.

“But it must not be overlooked that when the EU proposes measures, no matter how nonsensical, sooner or later they come into being. Our government may protest but our objections are usually tossed aside, the votes for prisoners being an example of this.”