More than 200,000 motorists in Berlin could have their cars banned from major roads in the city, under plans leaked to German television.

Local authorities in the German capital are considering making it the latest in a series of cities to ban older diesel cars as they try to bring air pollution under control.

The proposals, which would see diesel cars that do not meet the latest EU emission standards prohibited from the major routes into Berlin, come despite a new exchange scheme announced by Angela Merkel’s government this week to prevent driving bans.

Under the scheme, motorists in the 14 most polluted cities in Germany will be offered premiums to trade in their old diesel cars for new cleaner models.

But despite being Germany’s biggest city Berlin is not among the most polluted and its drivers will not be eligible for the deal.