SOUTHAMPTON has been awarded grants totalling £892,000 as part of a nationwide attempt to improve Britain's most toxic cities.

More than £350,000 will be spent on increasing the number of low-emission taxis and teaching city council employees how to adopt a more eco-friendly style of driving.

Southampton will also receive £539,120 under plans to make it one of Britain's new Clean Air Zone cities.

Pollution is responsible for more than 100 deaths in Southampton each year and is estimated to cost the local NHS an annual £50 million.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Southampton and five other cities have urged Prime Minister Theresa May to tackle the issue of Britain's toxic air.

In a joint letter to Mrs May they warned that several measures were needed to cut the number of premature deaths caused by traffic fumes.

It follows the launch of the Daily Echo Breath Easy campaign, which aims to highlight the main causes of pollution and analyse attempts to tackle the issue.

The money awarded to Southampton has come from the Air Quality Grant programme.

Some of the cash handed to the city council will be used to provide operators of taxis and private hire vehicles with incentives to replace polluting vehicles to low emission alternatives.

Almost £100,000 will be spent on ensuring council employees adopt a system known as Eco-Safe Driving, which aims to reduce inefficient use of the accelerator, brake and gears through better awareness, anticipation and planning.

A pilot project conducted by the city council in 2014/15 resulted in drivers achieving an average fuel saving of 22%.

The grants were welcomed by Cllr Christopher Hammond, the council's Cabinet member for transformation projects.

He said: "We’ve made it our priority to reduce pollution levels and clean up the air that we’re all breathing.

“From eco-driver training for all the council’s drivers, to supporting the delivery of ultra-low emission taxis, the money will enable us to make lasting improvements to the quality of the air in the city."

This year's Air Quality Grant programme is supporting schemes that aim to cut nitrogen dioxide levels.

Environment minister Therese Coffey said: “Tackling poor air quality is a priority for the government and we are working closely with local authorities.

“I was delighted at the broad range of ideas submitted, from using the latest technology to promoting cleaner taxis and increasing the uptake of electric vehicles, and these projects will help to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in our towns and cities."

Transport minister John Hayes added: "These grants will help councils take significant practical steps to clean up the air and improve communal wellbeing in their area."