EIGHTY three deaths in Warrington for one year can be linked to toxic air pollution, a study has found.

More than one in 23 deaths in the north west’s largest cities and towns are related to long term exposure to air pollution, according to Centre for Cities’ annual study of the UK’s major urban areas.

That is 21 times the regional rate of deaths from traffic accidents.

The proportion of deaths related to the deadly toxin PM2.5 are highest in Liverpool, with the latest data linking it to 279 deaths in just one year, or 4.6 per cent of all adult deaths in the city.

Warrington ranks third behind Manchester, with 83 deaths or 4.3 per cent of adult deaths in the town.

These deadly levels of PM2.5 are currently legal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, despite breaking the World Health Organization’s air pollution guidelines.

Transport is a significant, but not the sole contributor to air pollution; burning fuels is also a major cause.

Half of deadly PM2.5 toxins generated in cities and large towns come from sources such as wood burning stoves and coal fires.

Not all of it is locally generated – some in the south of England is blown in from continental Europe.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “More than half of people in the UK live in cities and large towns and while they offer people good employment and lifestyle opportunities, Cities Outlook 2020 shows that they also having a damaging effect on their health, with air pollution killing thousands of people living in cities every year.

“Politicians often talk tough on addressing air pollution but we need to see more action.

"People in the north west should be at the centre of the fight against its toxic air and councils should take the steps needed, including charging people to drive in city centres and banning wood burning stoves.

“To help, the Government needs to provide the north west’s councils with extra money and introduce stricter guidelines.

"The deadly levels of polluted air in the north west are entirely legal and this needs to change.

"As a matter of urgency the Government should adopt WHO’s stricter guidelines around PM2.5 emissions. Failure to act now will lead to more deaths in the north west.”