A BUSY city street has been recognised as one of the worst in the country for pollution.

North Street in Brighton is one of the 1,845 sites across the country where people are breathing in toxic air that breaks official safety limits for pollution, research has found.

It shows the bustling high street’s level of the toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) near the Clock Tower reaches an annual average level of 77.9 micrograms per cubic metre of air – almost double that of the World Health Organisation’s 40 mcg limit.

The worst spot in the country was Earls Court station in London which reached a staggering 129.5mcg.

Ewa Hosseini, 34, who works at the souvenir shop Squirrel, near the Clock Tower, was not surprised by the figures.

She said: “I lose count of how many buses I see going past within the minute, it’s constant.

“It does not surprised me at all the pollution is bad in this part of the city.

“That is why I have decided to live in Hove.”

Brighton and Hove Buses said it is continuing to invest millions every year in cleaner vehicles.

From August it is introducing 30 “Euro VI extended range hybrid electric buses” – vehicles designed to deliver zero emissions – on routes passing through the Clock Tower area.

Brighton and Hove Buses’ managing director Martin Harris said: “We won’t stop exploring and investing in new, cleaner and more efficient ways to run our business. There will be further annual investments in emissions-free vehicles, maintaining our position as one of the city’s biggest investors, exceeding £9 million every year.”

An equivalent Euro VI diesel car emits ten times more per passenger than the bus.

Mr Harris said: “Buses are part of the solution, not the problem.”

The bus company was working with Brighton and Hove City Council and the Quality Bus Partnership, which includes the council and other bus operators, on road design changes to improve the flow of buses at the Clock Tower and to make things easier for pedestrians.

Mr Harris said the company was looking at reducing the number of buses stopping in North Street.

The research comes from Friends of the Earth, which analysed local authority statistics on air quality.

The group said the country needs more clean air zones and to encourage non-polluting transport such as walking and cycling.

Simon Bowens, of Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s unforgivable that across the UK there are nearly 2,000 locations over air quality limits.

“It is harming the health of people across the country and is especially bad for young children whose lungs are still developing.

“The Government needs to step up and do more to help deal with this crisis.”

Dr Penny Woods of the British Lung Foundation said: “This analysis is shocking, but sadly not surprising.

“High levels of NO2 can irritate and inflame the lining of the airways, causing a flare-up of asthma and symptoms such as coughing.

“NO2 mostly comes from road transport, and the best way to reduce levels is to roll out Clean Air Zones.

“We need central and local governments to take bold action and do the right thing to protect people’s health.”