Campaign to drive 4x4s from city

The mock parking tickets challenge the use of 4x4s in urban areas

A new pressure group has been planting fake parking tickets on 4x4 cars in Bristol, challenging the need to drive off-road vehicles in urban areas.

Campaigners claim the cars - designed to travel on difficult terrain - are "polluting and dangerous" in cities.

The Bristol Alliance Against Urban 4x4s said many residents felt the vehicles were unsuitable for Bristol's streets.

But the Bristol and West Off Road Club said the campaigners were being "blind in their attitude" towards 4x4 users.

"If it's pollution they're concerned about, it's not just 4x4s, it's all gas guzzlers they should be targeting," said chairman Bill Rich.

"And some 4x4s are more economical than smaller cars. But at end of day, it's freedom of choice.

"A lot of owners have their own businesses, they employ people, they pay their taxes and that's their reward."

Climate change

The Bristol alliance said it was particularly targeting 4x4s because of their often greater weight and height.

"They have very low miles to gallon because they're so large, compared with say sports cars," said co-founder of the group, David Rose.

"And a recent study in the US found the likelihood of a pedestrian fatality is nearly doubled in the event of a collision with a large 4x4 compared with a passenger car."

The alliance is the latest in a number of similar groups across the UK which have modelled themselves on a campaign which began in London.

The spoof tickets, entitled Poor Vehicle Choice, were being placed under windscreen wipers of 4x4s in Bristol on Saturday.

Mr Rose added: "The question is this - are we as a society doing anything meaningful to slow down climate change when you can still legally park and drive a huge, fuel-inefficient Range Rover in Clifton, just for shopping trips and the school run?"