Sales of house coal and wet wood will be phased out in England from 2021 – affecting an estimated 2.5 million homes. Environment Secretary George Eustice said the continued use of dangerous fuels has become the “most harmful pollutant” across the UK. Wood burning stoves and coal fires are the single largest source of the chemical PM2.5 – a particle known to cause serious health problems.

The Department said the fumes from burning those materials produce three times as much pollution as road transport.

Mr Eustice said the Government is not banning the use of wood or coal-burning stoves, but stated the plan encourages a move towards the use of “cleaner” sources of energy, such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels.

The initiative forms part of the wider Clean Air Strategy target which aims to reduce emissions of PM2.5 by 46 percent by 2030.

Mr Eustice said: “Cosy open fires and wood-burning stoves are at the heart of many homes up and down the country.

“But the use of certain fuels means that they are also the biggest source of the most harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK.

“By moving towards the use of cleaner fuels such as dry wood we can all play a part in improving the health of millions of people.”

He added: “This is the latest step in delivering on the challenge we set ourselves in our world-leading clean air strategy.

“We will continue to be ambitious and innovative in tackling air pollution from all sources as we work towards our goal to halve the harm to human health from air pollution by 2030.”

The move has been met with widespread criticism from a number of Britons who have accused the Government of going too far in the battle against climate change.

One angry user wrote on Twitter: “And now coal and wood fires are to be banned as domestic fuels.

This is getting well out of hand.”

A second furious user said: “So as coal & wood fires are to be banned from next February & coal deliveries are to be phased out… can you please tell me how I am supposed to heat my home… answers on a postcard please.”

A third said: “Humans have been burning wood on their fires for millennia, have been burning coal for centuries, but now ‘experts’ are saying both are harmful for you….”

Meanwhile a fourth simply said: “This makes absolutely zero sense.”

Ian Gregory, an independent lobbyist for the fuel industry, also condemned the move and said up to four million people could be left out of pocket.

He said: “This is appalling news for the rural poor. Nearly 4million people are off the gas grid in the UK.

“Many of them keep their homes warm with coal because they can’t afford briquettes which cost twice as much.”

Under the major changes, the sales of bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021, with the sale of loose coal direct to customers ending by 2023.

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In terms of wet wood, sales of units less than 2m3 will begin to be phased out from February 21

The latest move comes after the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the ban on sales of new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars could begin ahead of schedule in 2032.

The Government has already announced the date has been brought forward from 2040 to 2035.

The scheme forms part of the UK ambitious target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

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