London's air quality 'kills 3,000 annually'

The air quality in London is responsible for the deaths of around 3,000 people every year, a new report has concluded.

Entitled Every breath you take, the report, which was undertaken by the London Assembly using statistics from the Environment Agency, calculates that health problems arising from poor air quality in the UK cost the NHS around £20 billion a year.

It holds fumes from diesel engines largely responsible for symptoms ranging from simple coughs to chronic conditions and found that young children and the elderly are the worst affected by this type of pollution.

Member of the London Assembly Darren Johnson said that there is "no single solution" to achieving good air quality.

He continued: "While all levels of government, from local to European, must play a part, the Mayor's policies to tackle air pollution needs to be at the heart of improving the air Londoners breathe."

Air quality in London may deteriorate significantly and cause the city to miss its EU environmental targets if Boris Johnson goes ahead with plans to scrap the third phase of the city's emissions reduction plans, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.