Nearly nine in ten neighbourhoods in Brighton and Hove are exposed to dangerously high air pollution, new analysis has found.

Data from environmental organisation Friends of the Earth revealed that 146 neighbourhoods in Brighton and Hove were exposed to air pollution exceeding the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended safety limit.

The figure, equivalent to around 89 per cent of neighbourhoods in the city, means that approximately 260,000 people were breathing polluted air in the city last year, which has been linked to up to 36,000 premature deaths each year across the UK.

Some 77 schools are in the areas of Brighton and Hove where the dangerous air pollution was recorded, affecting 44,000 children.

The data used information from the census to divide the UK into over 33,000 neighbourhood areas, each with between 1,000 and 3,000 people living there.

Across England and Wales, three in five neighbourhoods were found to have polluted air.

Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth’s head of policy, said: “It’s a national scandal that millions of people across the country live in areas where air pollution is double the safety, with children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions most at risk.”

The figures as the government announced it was pushing back the deadline for several environmental policies, such as the ban of new diesel and petrol cars, which are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Childs said: “Rishi Sunak’s back-pedalling on measures aimed at tackling poor air quality, such as funding better cycling provision and financial support and incentive to switch to cleaner cars, will simply prolong people’s misery.”

READ MORE: Air pollution damaging at all stages of life, research shows

Councillor Trevor Muten, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council’s transport and sustainability committee, said that the council is expanding air quality monitoring and working towards “targeted actions” to improve air quality.

He said: “The council’s air quality action plan includes a wide range of potential measures that can reduce emissions.

“These include improving building insulation and ventilation indoors and outdoors, but we recognise one size may not fit all.

“Our data-driven approach will help identify the most effective means to improve air quality by controlling smoke and tackling vehicle missions and which ensure that the benefits are maximised.”

He also said that the council will encourage a move to cleaner transport around the city with measures including delivering “well-planned” active travel schemes, increasing electric vehicle charging on-street and in new developments, and working with bus companies and taxi operators to encourage and deliver an increase in ultralow or zero-emission fleets.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We absolutely recognise the importance of protecting people from air pollution, which is why we have set stretching new targets for fine particulate matter, and are taking comprehensive action set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 to improve air quality for all.”