Reading is among the most polluted areas in the UK

Health campaigners say "toxic" air quality in the UK is a national emergency and the government must impose stricter limits on fine particles in the air (PM2.5), which come mainly from the burning of oil, gas and diesel.

The calls have been heightened after a coroner, while ruling that air pollution was a cause of the death of a nine-year-old girl in London, said there was "no safe level" of PM2.5, adding WHO guidelines should be seen "as minimum requirements".

READ ALSO: How Hollywood actor has ended up being compared to a sheep in Reading

Figures from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs show the average concentration of PM2.5 pollution particles in Reading was 10.5 micrograms per cubic metre in 2019 – below the UK limit of 25, but above the WHO guideline limit of 10.

That was a decrease from 11.7 micrograms in 2018.

Separate figures published by the NHS show an estimated 5.6 per cent of deaths among people aged 30 and over in Reading were associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5, down from 6.3 per cent the year before.

The figures come as 23 schools across Reading have signed up to take part in national Walk to School Week, which begins on Monday, May 17.

Pupils and parents right across the town will join thousands of children across the UK to celebrate the benefits of walking in the week, which runs from Monday to Friday next week.

Families are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see for themselves the big differences that come from small steps.

These include healthier and happier children and fewer cars outside the school gates.

This year’s challenge will focus on the ‘walking superpowers’ that benefit individuals, communities and the planet.

Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May.

Pupils in Reading will be taking advantage of Living Streets’ Walk to School Week classroom packs, funded by the Reading Borough Council through its Travel Demand Management fund, which are filled with activities to complete on the way to school and in the classroom.

Each day, pupils will be introduced to a brand new ‘Walking Superpower’ taking the form of a fun comic-book inspired design.

‘Super Strong’, ‘Super Smart’, ‘Super Smiley’, ‘Super Safe’ and ‘Super Sustainable’ will teach pupils about the benefits of being active and reinforce the power of walking.

READ ALSO: Reading's food hygiene ratings revealed

Daily reward stickers and special reward badges are up for grabs at the end of the week for those who travelled actively every day.

Students from Geoffrey Field Junior School have already been recognised for their efforts on travelling more sustainably to school, achieving both Green and Bronze awards for Modeshift STARS.

Scooterpod

The Junior School is the third Reading school to have achieved a Modeshift STARS award – a national scheme which recognises schools which have demonstrated excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel.

Geoffrey Field Juniors has continued to encourage pupils, parents and teachers to travel more sustainably over the last year.

It is now working towards achieving the Silver Modeshift STARS award.

The school has also been rewarded with a scooterpod which will help encourage more children to want to travel sustainably to school, alongside new cycle parking facilities installed last year.