A Green Badge parking scheme offering a 25% discount to drivers of environmentally friendly cars has been launched in Manchester.

Owners of low emission vehicles will be entitled to the discount off a season ticket at the city's NCP car parks.

Some drivers will save over £900 a year under the scheme. In addition, Green Badge holders will be able to park in specially reserved parking bays that are painted green in city centre NCP car parks.

The scheme, which is a joint venture between Manchester city council and NCP, follows a survey of almost 35,000 cars parked in Manchester that revealed only 2.2% were classed as low emission.

"It is the first parking scheme in the UK designed to incentivise drivers to switch to lower emission petrol or diesel cars rather than simply penalise those that run gas guzzlers", said a spokesman for Manchester is my Planet (Mimp), a programme helping councils and business across Greater Manchester to become greener.

The Green Badge scheme, which is aimed at people who regularly drive into Manchester, is part of the city council's quest to become Britain's greenest city.

Trafford council is looking at introducing a similar Green Badge scheme.

Green Badges will be available to owners of vehicles that emit 120g or less of CO2 and 0.02 or less of particulates. More than 30 vehicles currently qualify.

The Blue Badge scheme operates throughout the UK providing a range of parking benefits for disabled people.