A NEW crackdown on pollution has been launched in a bid to improve air quality.

Police and officers from Glasgow City Council's emissions testing unit will be checking vehicles to ensure they are not contributing to air pollution.

Launched yesterday, the campaign will target drivers with defective vehicles who will be warned and issued with a £60 fixed penalty fine.

The push by the emissions testing team coincides with a four-week, £100,000 advertising campaign in newspapers, television and radio.

Leaflets will also be given to motorists when they are pulled in for the roadside check-up or spotted parked with their engines running.

The fine will be scrapped if the defect is repaired and paperwork produced within 28 days, confirming it meets legal exhaust emissions.

Tommy McDonald, assistant director of land services, said: "It is everyone's responsibility to improve the environment in the city, and that includes the air quality."

This is the latest in a series of similar clean air campaigns targeting vehicles to make sure exhaust fumes are within legal limits.

So far, 6192 cars, 211 buses and lorries, and 370 taxis and private hire cabs have been tested. The failure rate is running at 2.39%.

Motorists who leave their engines running while their vehicle is stationary will also be issued with a £20 fine.

A total of 120 drivers have paid fines since the new legislation was introduced in November 2005.