Brighton and Hove has been named city of the year at Europe’s top clean transport awards.

Brighton and Hove has been crowned City of the Year in the CIVITAS Awards 2014 earlier today.

The prize is awarded each year to the city which best demonstrates the ability to make ambitious sustainable transport policies a reality.

Winning cities have to show an active involvement of local people, overcome challenges and help meet CIVITAS goals on cleaner, better transport in European cities.

The city council scored heavily with policies to promote cycling and bus travel, as well as offering schools, businesses and residents advice on smarter transport choices with “personal travel planning”.

The council's transformation of Seven Dials, Vogue Gyratory and the North Laine all helped the city to take the top prize.

Brighton and Hove was runner-up in the awards in 2012 but has now gone one better.

Lead councillor for transport Ian Davey said:  “These award-winning initiatives are not novel to Brighton and Hove – instead they represent best practice all across Europe. 

"However the difference we have made is in actually delivering best practice in Brighton & Hove, instead of the city lagging behind Britain and Europe. 

“It’s immensely satisfying to have this recognised by a judging panel of renowned transport experts from the UK and abroad – and to have it recognised that we have involved huge numbers of residents in these decisions.”