LOCAL authorities have been told they need to do more to protect people from harmful air pollution.

The call came after new estimates suggested thousands die each year as a result of poor air quality.

In Wirral, the deaths of 166 people over the age of 25 have been attributed to air pollution.

Long-term exposure to air pollution led to around 25,000 deaths in England in 2010, Public Health England (PHE) said, with 3,427 of those in the North west.

In Wirral, the deaths of 166 people over the age of 25 have been attributed to air pollution.

The borough's director of public health, Fiona Johnstone, says the authority is working hard to cut carbon emissions.

"Wirral Council monitors air pollution and works alongside the Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs to identify any areas where statutory levels are exceeded," said Ms Johnstone.

"We are working hard to reduce air pollution, with schemes to cut carbon emissions and promote sustainable forms of transport.

"Cutting vehicle emissions will be central to improving the air quality in the borough.

"Earlier this year the authority consulted on a new climate change strategy, which will make Wirral more energy efficient, increase our use of forms of renewable energy and help us plan for unavoidable changes to our climate."

Swathes of England and Wales suffered extremely high pollution levels last month, with Wirral reaching levels seven and eight on Defra’s air pollution scale.

Wirral Council advised schoolchildren to stay indoors because of the dip in air quality, which was caused by a combination of dust from the Sahara Desert, emissions from the continent, low south-easterly winds and domestic pollution.