A fund that helps small businesses and households upgrade their vehicles to comply with the Low Emission Zone has reopened to new applicants.

Funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Energy Saving Trust, the LEZ Support Fund offers financial support to households and micro-businesses to encourage them to purchase newer, less polluting vehicles.

Micro-businesses can also benefit from the LEZ Retrofit Fund to retrofit light goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, and wheelchair-accessible taxis to LEZ requirements.

The LEZ Support Fund provides households and micro-business, or sole traders with a grant of £2,000 to prompt the disposal of a vehicle which does not meet LEZ requirements.

The fund will also offer up to a further £1,000 in mobility grants or Travel Better credits to purchase a bike, e-bike or public transport vouchers.

The LEZ Retrofit Fund offers grants of up to 70% to cover the cost of a vehicle retrofit - with micro-businesses and sole traders able to apply for funding for up to three vehicles.

Grants are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to availability.

Cllr Angus Millar, Glasgow City Council Convener for Climate and Transport, said: "I'm pleased that the Scottish Government and Energy Saving Trust's LEZ Support Fund has reopened and can continue, as it has in previous years, to help eligible households, smaller businesses and sole traders to travel more sustainably and meet the required LEZ air quality standards.

"With £5m available this year, the fund will support the transition to LEZ compliance and more breathable air for all of us.

"Over the last four years, around £4m has been awarded to eligible households and smaller businesses in the Glasgow region, whilst £1.4m has been paid out for taxi retrofits - with public hire taxi operators in the city now either LEZ compliant or subject to an exemption until next year to allow extra time to achieve compliance.

"I would encourage households and businesses to check their eligibility to see if they can take advantage of this year's funding availability."

The move comes amid an ongoing legal challenge against the LEZ backed by local businesses who claim that air quality targets were met during phase one of the scheme, negating the need for phase two.

We previously reported that the bid to have phase two deemed unlawful, spearheaded by garage owner William Paton, was given the green light to move forward on July 28.

A procedural hearing is set for September 8 and will be followed by the judicial review on October 17.

To find out more about the LEZ Support Fund, click here.