Paris has banned about a third of the cars in the region from entering the capital on weekdays to improve air quality and reduce deaths from particulate pollution.

The measures — some of the most restrictive in Europe — come after the publication of a report showing that Paris has higher levels of the pollution than any other EU capital.

Under the policy introduced on July 1 by Anne Hidalgo, the city’s mayor, diesel cars and vans made before January 1, 2006 have been banned from the capital between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, along with all motorbikes and three-wheeled vehicles made before June 30, 2004.

Car owners who flout the ban face fines of €68 (£53) while lorry drivers can be fined up