BEIJING - An initiative to rid the capital's roads of polluting vehicles enjoyed huge success in its first month, as motorists flocked to trade in old clunkers, authorities say.

According to official data, almost 25,000 aging automobiles were scrapped or sold to buyers outside of Beijing by the end of August, an 86-percent increase on the average for the previous seven months.

"The market is responding well so far and car owners have been enthusiastic," said Wang Junhui, a spokesman for the China Beijing Environment Exchange, which is running the program.