WINCHESTER civic chiefs are wrongly patting themselves on the back over reduced carbon emissions.

A report has highlighted that a target 30 per cent reduction on CO2 emissions between 2005-2015 has been missed.

Cllr Anne Weir, Liberal Democrat, said the Conservative-controlled city council was in danger of complacency.

"The target for 2020 - 40 per cent lower CO2 emissions relative to 2004 - is even more challenging at a time when progress is stalling."

Cllr Eleanor Bell, Lib Dem, said most of the reduction had been because coal-fired power station has been closed.

Cllr Jan Warwick, portfolio holder for environment, said Winchester's emissions figures was impacted by the closeness of the M3 and M27.

She said when population growth of the Winchester district - 11 per cent since 2004 - was taken into account, the target had been exceeded by only 0.8 per cent.

The greatest opportunity was around goods vehicles and electricity usage by commercial organisations.

She told Council: "We need to focus on behavioural change in the business community, where the consumption of electricity shows no sign of reducing. Goods vehicles have been on the increase (14 per cent more than in 2009) and are another significant contributor to our carbon footprint."