BUSES are set to go green thanks to a government grant to tackle air pollution.

A successful bid between Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Buses means up to £750,000 will be spent making 50 vehicles more eco-friendly.

Bosses hope the move will see a reduction of nitrogen oxide levels, which currently are higher than European Union standards in a number of key locations across the city.

Green councillor Ian Davey, the council's lead member on transport, said: “Brighton and Hove residents already make more bus journeys than anywhere in the UK outside of London.

“But as our city grows and more and more people make the switch to sustainable transport, we need all vehicles on the city's streets to be as clean as possible.”

More than 30 councils applied for money under the Clean Bus Technology Fund.

But Brighton and Hove was one of only five local authorities to be successful.

It will be used to fit Selective Catalytic Reduction technology to exhaust systems to reduce pollutants Martin Harris, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said he hoped this would encourage other operators to go green.

He said: “The funding from this joint bid will add to our own substantial investments in greener technologies and upgrade up to 50 buses, a substantial proportion of our fleet, and I hope it encourages other operators of vehicles in the city centre to further their support for efforts to deliver a greener city.”