Residents in Hackbridge are being urged to sign up to a free air pollution alert system after the borough experienced the highest levels for more than four years.

A combination of transport emissions and pollution transported from continental Europe by airstreams saw pollution levels soaring across London for a week.

High levels of PM10 particulates were recorded at a number of locations across the city, including Sutton Council’s measuring station in Worcester Park PM10 particulates are very fine particles, invisible to the naked eye.

These can penetrate deep into the lungs and produce significant effects for sensitive people.

The Government has devised a pollution banding scale from low to very high, and at moderate and high levels people with heart conditions or lung diseases including asthma may experience effects.

Sutton Council is now urging residents who suffer from conditions likely to be made worse by elevated air pollution to sign up to the AirText service, which provides air alerts when levels are expected to reach moderate or above.

Colin Hall, Sutton Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Having an early warning could prove very useful to our residents who have conditions like asthma or bad hayfever.

"It will allow them to take sensible precautions like making sure they have enough medication.

“Although last week’s event was largely caused by pollution from the continent it shows how we need to act locally to tackle pollution.

“Sutton is working closely with the Environment Agency to make sure existing and new industry minimise emissions to atmosphere and cleaner vehicle technologies and initiatives such as Smarter Travel will also help reduce local pollution.”

Residents can choose to receive the free AirText alerts by text to a mobile phone, a recorded message to a landline or an email.

Visit airtext.info or text AIRTEXT to 78070.