TOUGH new legal limits on air pollution are set to be introduced after a vote in the European Parliament.

Euro MPs have voted to set legal limits on car fumes, dust, lead and other air pollutants across Europe.

Mark Hendrick, MEP for Burnley, Pendle and Ribble Valley, is a member of the European Parliament's influential environment committee.

He said towns which did not meet the new standards would have to draw up action plans to meet them by 2005.

Under the draft EU directive - likely to come into force this year - strict new standards would be set for the level of air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide from car fumes.

News bulletins will have to be issued if car fumes in East Lancashire towns reach dangerous levels.

Public information on levels of air pollution will have to be improved under the proposals, based on World Health Organisation proposals.

Mr Hendrick sad it damages health, eats away the fabric of buildings, dirties our environment, kills plants and drives away wildlife.

"East Lancashire air may have to be cleaned up to reach WHO standards. Local authorities may find themselves obliged to get together to produce a local plan to cut air pollution.

"Car fumes and power plant emissions must be reduced. But air pollution cannot just be tackled locally. There will be action at national and EU level too."

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