Paris has lifted its car ban after just one day with police issuing practically 4,000 fines as pollution fell back below the safe limit.
Motorists with even-numbered licence plates had been prohibited from driving in the smog-filled capital on Monday, with restrictions expected to be reversed to even-numbered plates on Tuesday and so on.
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But after just one day and 3,859 chauffeurs who chose to disregard the strict policies stopped by police, French officials have lifted the ban.
Congestion in the city was 60 per cent lower than normal while a cooler climate also helped to disperse the harmful pollution. French transport minister Frederic Cuvillier said: “This is a public health problem … we thank everyone who fell into line.”
The strict policies had aimed to halve the number of cars in the city after pollution rose to double the safe levels. hundreds of police officers patrolled the morning rush-hour handing out on-the-spot €22 (£18) fines to those with the wrong plates. 
But numerous chauffeurs in Paris and its suburbs chose to flout the guidelines and pay the fine, which equated to less than the daily congestion charge in London over a week. Officers racked up €80,000 in fines on the day.