Over half of Department for Transport fleet diesel

Fifty-four per cent of the Department for Transport's fleet runs on diesel, with a further five per cent powered by petrol.

Figures obtained by the BBC through the Freedom of Information Act show the Department for Transport operates 1,234 cars - 672 run on diesel, 63 on petrol, with the rest electric or hybrid.

The sale of new diesel and petrol cars is to be banned from 2030, and the Department for Transport is overseeing the change to zero emission vehicles. Yet it still relies heavily on diesel vehicles.

A spokesperson added it had "already exceeded" a government-wide target to electrify more than a quarter of its fleet by next year, but Campaign for Better Transport said the government should lead by example.

The figures show 29% of DfT vehicles were plug-in electric hybrids, a further 9% were so-called mild hybrids, and 3% were electric-only.

The highest proportion of diesel vehicles was owned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, where 84% run on the fuel.

The department itself operates 112 cars, including 96 to transport ministers and civil servants from across government on official duties.

Among this central pool of ministerial motors, just 15% were diesel, with about 30% petrol, 27% hybrid and 29% fully electric.