Paris to stop traffic when air pollution spikes

Mayor wins long-running battle to introduce emergency traffic bans when pollution from vehicles reaches dangerous levels

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has won a long-running battle with the French government to introduce emergency traffic bans in the city when air pollution spikes.

The move to speed up the introduction of alternate driving days for cars with odd and even number registration plates was announced after pollution spiked in the French capital on Monday, just weeks before the city is due to host a crucial UN climate change summit.