by Our News Desk

MORE than a million cars in Britain are fitted with software designed to cheat emissions tests, Volkswagen confirmed yesterday.

The German car-maker said that 1.2m in Britain were affected — nearly one in 10 of all diesel cars in the country.

Vehicles affected include 508,276 Volkswagen cars, 393,450 Audis, 131,569 Skodas, 79,838 VW commercial vehicles and 76,773 Seats.

The software involves a sophisticated device that switches engines to a cleaner mode when they are undergoing official testing.

Once on the road the cars produce nitrogen oxide pollutants at up to 40 times the legal standard.

“We now need the government to urgently set out a timetable for action so that consumers can get redress,” said consumer group Which? executive director Richard Lloyd.

“We also want the rest of the car industry to swiftly set out whether their tests have been manipulated and if their customers have been misled.”

Volkswagen said it would contact the owners to arrange for their vehicles to be “corrected,” but did not say how the modification would work.

It will give the identification number of affected vehicles to retailers “in the coming days” and then customers will be contacted.

The firm will also set up a system for drivers to check for themselves whether their vehicle needs modifying.

Some British law firms say they have been contacted by hundreds of motorists interested in a group action against VW.

London-based firm Leigh Day is calling for compensation for those drivers who paid a premium for “clean” diesel cars.

The British Lung Foundation wants proposed changes to European testing of vehicle emissions to be implemented as soon as possible.