For those readers left scratching their heads over the Government's ban on sales of all new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars from 2035, here's what I — a former Fleet Street motoring editor — will be doing to help save the planet.

Our family car, a VW Golf, has at least a decade left in its petrol engine. Good care and servicing should stretch that to 2033. Then I'll buy the very latest-technology petrol or diesel car, just before the pre'ban sales scramble causes prices to spiral.

Why? Because I'm convinced it is the greenest thing to do all round.

Debacle

The government's attempt to meet its near-zero carbon target by bringing forward by five years its ban on petrol, diesel and hybrid cars is well'intentioned. Yet it is doomed to backfire as badly as a Model T Ford.