The mayor of London yesterday announced a £1m fund to help protect pupils attending schools in the most polluted areas of the capital.

Air quality audits have been carried out in 50 schools across 23 London boroughs which resulted in a series of recommendations to protect pupils.

These included major infrastructure measures, such as closing roads, as well as targeting indoor pollution using improved ventilation systems, and installing green ‘pollution barrier’ hedges.

The new fund will provide each of the 50 audited schools with a £10,000 starter grant and enable any other schools located in areas exceeding legal air pollution limits to apply for green infrastructure funding.

‘Air pollution is a national health crisis that is putting the health of children at risk,’ said Sadiq Khan.

‘As Mayor, I’ve moved fast in London to implement the most ambitious plans to tackle air pollution of any major city in the world.

‘This includes cleaning up our bus and taxi fleets, bringing forward the introduction of the world’s first Ultra-Low Emission Zone and introducing the Toxicity Charge – T-Charge – for the oldest polluting vehicles in central London.

‘But I can’t do this alone. The Government must step up and act with more urgency if we are going to tackle London’s filthy air once and for all.’?