Children in Colchester schools have been encouraged to make pledges to tackle air pollution, including convincing others to stop driving.

In a show of commitment to Clean Air Day marked on June 20, youngsters from St John’s Green Primary School made promises to improve air quality in the city.

The Year 5 pupils had to brainstorm ideas during an assembly organised by Colchester City Council's 'CAReless Pollution - no idling' campaign and environmental volunteer group Clean Air Colchester.

The children could learn about the causes of air pollution and its effects on them.

Each of the pupils then made a commitment to control air pollution, which included walking and cycling more, convincing others to take public transport instead of driving and spreading the anti-pollution message.

Andrea Luxford Vaughan, portfolio holder for planning, environment and sustainability at Colchester City Council, said: "I have loved reading through all the pledges that have been made this week by some of our youngest residents.

"As a council, we are committed to tackling poor air quality in our city to ensure everyone, but particularly vulnerable groups like children, have clean air to breathe.

"Our work includes reminding drivers to switch their engines off when stationary, a loan scheme for e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, city centre secure bike parking, and cycling and walking maps to encourage people to switch to alternative cleaner forms of transport.

"We hope that children and their adults will be keen to take up these actions, as well as their own ideas for improving local air."

The council says children, due to their height, are exposed to 30 per cent more air pollution compared to adults, particularly from vehicle exhaust fumes which can cause stunted lung growth and make conditions such as asthma worse.

The CAReless Pollution campaign, launched in 2020, is designed to reduce this risk by encouraging drivers to switch off engines when not moving, which could drastically cut vehicle pollution by up to 30 per cent.