CLEAN up or pay up. That's the message from the Government as it unveils long-awaited proposals to drive dirty exhausts from Britain's roads. Subject to consultation and Parliamentary approval in the autumn, seven local authorities will be given powers to enforce vehicle emission standards at the roadside on a trial basis from next year.

The authorities - Birmingham City Council, Bristol City Council, Canterbury City Council, Glasgow City Council, Middlesbrough Borough Council, City and County of Swansea and City of Westminster - will be able to issue fixed penalty notices to offenders exceeding the prescribed limits. Under the proposals offenders would have to pay a fixed penalty of £60 within 28 days, otherwise the penalty would increase to £90. If the increased penalty was still unpaid after 56 days authorities would have the power to take court action to obtain payment. Police would be present at all emissions enforcement checks and local authorities would employ trained staff to conduct the emission checks to MoT test standards.

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions hopes that the trial will result in other authorities adopting similar powers. It is expected that the authorities would use the income from issuing the fixed penalty notices to fund their work.