Vehicles can now be donated to Ukraine instead of being scrapped under Ulez

Eleanor Brown, of Forest Hill, London, hands the keys of her Land Rover Discovery to Bohdan Bolonnyy, of British Ukrainian Aid. Instead of being scrapped the vehicle will be delivered to a paramedic in Ukraine. Photograph: BUA/Richard Lofthouse

Motorists planning to scrap vehicles that do not meet ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) standards in London can instead donate them to Ukraine from Friday, as a scheme is launched after a protracted campaign to win the support of the mayor and central government.

The proposal dates back over a year, but was initially rejected by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, on legal grounds, and only reversed after a vigorous and at times acrimonious lobbying effort which succeeded when it was approved by the transport department.