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The government has approved the use of longer lorries on British roads, saying it will make businesses more efficient and cut emissions.

It comes despite one campaign group warning the move could put pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

Longer lorries can carry more goods in fewer trips but have a larger tail swing, meaning their rear end covers a greater area when turning. They also have extended blind spots.

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The move is set to result in £1.4bn of economic benefits and take one standard-size trailer off the road for every 12 trips, the government said.

It estimates the vehicles will save 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere over 11 years.

However, the Campaign for Better Transport said the change was was a "deeply retrograde step" which will "do nothing to tackle carbon emissions or air pollution".

Spokesman Norman Baker added that the bigger "tail swing" of the lorries presented a "danger to other road users and pedestrians".

He added: "Rather than longer lorries, the government should be working to ensure more freight is moved by rail - an efficient, safe and clean alternative with just one freight train capable of removing up to 129 lorries from our roads."

Ryanair has agreed a $40bn (£31bn) deal with Boeing that will see it purchase up to 300 new aircraft over the next decade.

Half of the 737-MAX-10 order has been described as firm, with the remaining being options.

The airline claims this is the largest order ever placed by an Irish company for US manufactured goods.

Phased deliveries will start in 2027 and run until 2033, with half of the new purchases set to replace older aircraft in the Ryanair fleet, boosting efficiency and cutting emissions.

The new aircraft, which have 228 seats, are to be used to meet Ryanair’s traffic which it forecasts will grow by 80% and reach 300m passengers a year by 2034.

The airline's chief executive Michael O’Leary described the deal as "the ideal growth aircraft order for Ryanair, our passengers, our people and our shareholders”.

"These new, fuel efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21% more seats, burn 20% less fuel and are 50% quieter than our B737-NGs," he said.

He added that the deal would enable Ryanair to create more than 10,000 new high-paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers.