London road worst for pollutant

Marylebone Road has six lanes of traffic

A central London road has been named as the worst in Britain for a type of diesel pollutant.

Marylebone Road had the highest levels of PM10 out of 61 sites monitored by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Camden in north London and Glasgow in Scotland were named as the other worst areas for the pollutant which can cause breathing problems such as asthma.

The society called on vehicle manufacturers to reduce PM10 levels with technology already available.

It said manufacturers can install particulate filters or design engines to make them cleaner.

Grahame Pope, a spokesman for the society, said: "Levels of PM10 across the whole of the UK are of enormous concern to physiotherapists and all health professionals who work with patients with breathing problems.

"PM10 is being increasingly linked with asthma, which affects over five million people in the UK. The technology exists to reduce emissions from diesel engines.

"For the sake of our health and our children's health, we cannot afford to go on ignoring this problem."