TRANSPORT FOR LONDON misled the public about the benefits of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), according to a draft report leaked to the Sunday Telegraph.

An investigation was launched by watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) earlier this year after hundreds of people complained that the transport authority exaggerated the extent the scheme had improved air quality.

A draft ASA report criticises “misleading” claims made about reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO²) in TfL’s radio and newspaper adverts and says that two complaints about two radio ads and one in a newspaper are to be upheld, according to the Telegraph.

The ASA found two ads were misleading because they did not make clear that claims that NO² levels had “reduced by nearly half” as a result of Ulez were based on estimates, not actual figures.

The second complaint set to be upheld, according to the newspaper, found that an advert that claimed deaths from pollution were higher in outer London failed to make clear that the area had already been covered by Ulez.

A Transport for London spokesman said it is strongly challenging the ASA’s recommendations and the body is confident that the advertising was accurate.