ENVIRONMENT chiefs have urged residents in areas with air pollution to work with them to cut toxic nitrogen dioxide levels.

Blackburn with Darwen Council have sent questionnaires to all households in the borough's five Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) to help them find ways to reduce traffic pollution where they live.

Home owners in the designated areas in Intack, Bastwell, the A666 between Robert Street and Wraith Street, Witton and Earcroft, are currently living with nitrogen dioxiode levels above those set as acceptable by the government.

And now environmental ministers have given councils until December 31 to find solutions to the problems to minimise the health effects of exposure to the gas, which include shortness of breath, asthma and chest pains.

Last year, according to experts at Imperial College London, 8,100 respiratory deaths were caused by high levels of roadside pollution.

Pedestrians who regularly walk these routes will now also be advised to walk as far away from the kerb as possible to limit damage of breathing fumes.

A council spokesman said: "Residents living in these areas have now been invited to participate in the process of devising plans to improve air quality at the five problem junctions, as it is important that needs are not overlooked.

"Most of nitrogen dioxide pollution at these junctions is created by traffic pollution, so we will follow the Government's advice and integrate our action within the Local Transport Plan.

"And as well as working with the community we will also continue to monitor the pollution levels at the five junctions to identify any changes."

Examples of measures introduced at AQMAs in other boroughs include improving vehicle flows at traffic lights, improving public transport and encouraging people to use it, parking controls, reducing traffic volumes by encouraging traffic to use other routes.

Executive member for citizen and consumer rights, Coun Frank Connor said: "The council is committed to improving the lives of people living and working in Blackburn with Darwen. Improving air quality is one of the ways in which we can do this."

Martin Baybutt, who lives in Accrington Road, Intack -- inside one of the designated AQMAs -- welcomed the action, saying "It is good to see the council taking action on this and as a resident I am glad I am being asked for my views on what should be done.

"Whether levels can be brought down in time for the New Year is another matter."