THE sports industry should drop deals with major polluters, such as car-makers Toyota and BMW, over concerns that sustainability claims are at odds with emissions, campaigners have said.

Team GB Olympic gold medallist Etienne Stott joined experts and researchers to condemn sponsorship deals with global car brands that pollute the environment, and compared them with earlier tobacco advertising campaigns.

Researchers said major car makers like Toyota and BMW are spending £3.6 billion on sport sponsorship deals as a way to improve their image on sustainability despite them lobbying governments to delay climate policy.