EMISSIONS caused by cars and other vehicles in Swindon fell by a record amount in 2020.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy figures show transport caused 368 kilo-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (ktCO2e) emissions in this town during that year.

This was down from 469 the year before and the largest decrease since 2005, when records began.

Carbon dioxide equivalent determines the amount of CO2 that would need to be emitted to equal the same global warming potential of other produced greenhouse gases.

Road vehicles accounted for 98 per cent of transport emissions.

Across the UK, the carbon footprint caused by transport dropped by a record 23,350 ktCO2e (18 per cent), from 130,021 to 106,671.

A government spokesperson said: "We have committed unprecedented funding to encourage walking and cycling, as well as to accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicles."

Swindon's total greenhouse gas emissions fell to 962 ktC02e in 2020, down 14% from 962 the year before.

Of this, 38 per cent was caused by transport, while commercial emissions accounted for 10 per cent, industry produced 14 per cent, and domestic use 29 per cent.

The average person in Swindon produced four tCO2e in 2020.