HEALTH ALERT: Toxic smog to blanket Derbyshire today

The Government has issued a health alert over potentially dangerous levels of toxic smog across Derbyshire.

By Ben Green

Published 19th Mar 2015, 10:05 BST

The UK Pollution Index for today (Thursday 19th March 2015)

The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has warned that pollution could reach dangerously high levels today.

An area of high pressure sitting over the UK, pulling in polluted air from Europe, is responsible for the smog.

DEFRA’s Pollution Index ranges from 1-10, and in Derbyshire today pollution could reach 8 or 9 on the scale.

It could trigger problems for people with respiratory conditions, the elderly and the young.

A DEFRA spokeswoman said: “Winds bringing in pollution from the continent, combined with locally-generated pollution and still weather conditions has led to some high pollution measurements across the UK.”