The car scrappage scheme has taken more than 5,000 old cars off the road in two years,  Environment Minister Mario de Marco said today.

Dr de Marco said the scheme was part of the Government's efforts to bring down pollution and improve air quality.

Motorists driving cars of over 10 years were offered a rebate up to a maximum of €2,000 on the price of a new car if they scrapped their old vehicle.

In 2011 some 3,000 motorists benefited from the scheme and this year the number of beneficiaries is almost 2,300.

Dr de Marco was speaking at the Mepa offices this afternoon as a new mobile air quality monitoring station was unveiled.

Kevin Mercieca, unit manager, said energy generation and cars were the two biggest polluters.

He explained the mobile air monitoring station would complement Mepa's five fixed stations and give the authority more flexibility.

Mepa monitors air quality as part of the country's EU obligations and publishes the results in real time on its website.