New Bentley for the Royal borough but Dagenham sticks with Ford

Some mayors arrive to work in a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Others prefer an environmentally friendly Toyota Prius.

The Evening Standard today reveals the range of cars used by the 33 boroughs to transport their ceremonial mayors.

Kensington and Chelsea's is the grandest - a £95,327 Bentley Continental Flying Spur bought in December, which the council says reflects the royal borough's status.

In Barking and Dagenham it has to be a Ford. Although car production at the firm's Dagenham plant ended in 2002, Mayor Fred Barns still relies on a 1997 Ford Grosvenor limousine.

In Westminster, the Lord Mayor has a Rolls-Royce Park Ward, bought second-hand in 2003 for £90,261. The capital's other Lord Mayor - the ambassador for the City of London - uses an LPG black cab and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Bromley is due to take delivery of two diesel Jaguar XJ6s, which will run partly on biodiesel.

Other boroughs with green credentials include Richmond, which bought a £16,000 petrol-electric Prius in March.

Hillingdon spends most on its mayoral car - £85,719 a year to lease a Mercedes S-class - while a vehicle dealer has offered neighbouring Hounslow free use of a "green" car for a year.