Call to ban cars that do less than 35mpg

• Former Shell boss hits out
• Ban should be imposed to improve emissions
• Rich 'should live by same rules as everyone else'

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A former chairman of Shell has called for cars that can't achieve more than 35 miles per gallon to be banned because of the damage they do to the environment.

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told the BBC: 'Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg. We need tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something below a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg.'

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders dismissed Moody-Stuart's arguments, saying that drivers of higher-polluting cars already paid more road tax and petrol duty.

However, Moody-Stuart countered: 'It is a social thing. We mustn't say the wealthy can avoid doing what is needed by society.

'When we eliminated coal fires in London, we didn't say to people that you can pay a bit more and toast your crumpets in front of an open fire - we said nobody, but nobody, could have an open fire.'