Travel chaos as toxic smog sweeps
FREEZING fog mixed with choking pollution from the Continent will smother Britain this week.
A toxic smog was forecast to roll over the South and East first before it spreads to the rest of the country.
Yesterday thousands of air passengers faced delays and cancellations while drivers were warned of treacherous “peasouper” fogs.
Schoolchildren in London were kept indoors as Mayor Sadiq Khan issued the capital’s first “very high” pollution alert.
Caustic smog from the Continent will mix with freezing fog over Britain for the next few days.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) warned of very high pollution in parts of the country today.
Some regions will be hit by similar levels tomorrow before they fall by the weekend.
Smog from Europe has been made worse by plunging temperatures producing thick blankets of freezing fog.
Britain will shiver for the rest of the week with the lowest temperatures in southern regions, forecasters said.
The Met Office warned of further frosty, foggy mornings largely across the South with no change until the weekend.
It has issued another severe weather warning for fog across much of southern and eastern parts.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “We’re expecting these conditions to last for a few days. It will remain cold with the risk of fog. There are signs things may become more unsettled and ‘mobile’ towards the end of the week.”
The North will be milder through the week with temperatures reaching high single figures during the day before dropping to about 4C (39.2F) overnight.
Elsewhere, many areas will struggle to get much above freezing during the day with overnight lows of minus 6C possible in exposed regions.
During the early hours of yesterday, thermometers plunged to minus 7C.
Travellers and rush-hour workers faced chaos as roads and airports were shrouded in a thick, grimy smog.
Heathrow warned passengers to check flight details as visibility was reduced to 100 yards. Some 100 flights to and from the airport were affected with London’s City airport cancelling 88 flights. Nine flights were grounded at Gatwick.
Drivers were warned to prepare for difficult conditions and ensure their cars were prepared for their journeys.
Pollution blown in from France and Germany will linger over southern and eastern England for the next couple of days.
Tiny particles of soot and metal from vehicles and factories can raise the risk of breathing difficul-
ties. Sonia Munde of Asthma UK, said: “Two-thirds of people with asthma tell us poor air quality makes their symptoms worse, putting them at increased risk of a potentially fatal asthma attack.
“If you have asthma and find that fog or cold air makes your asthma worse, you should check weather forecasts and pollution for your area and carry your inhaler at all times.” Dr Penny Woods, of the British Lung Foundation, said: “The combination of toxic air and freezing temperatures poses a serious risk to people with lung conditions.
“It has been estimated that at least 3,000 schools are located within potentially dangerous levels of pollution, putting children’s lungs at risk.” Defra said moderate to high pollution levels will affect many parts of Britain today.
Very high levels will hit the South-east and parts of central and eastern England as winds drift in from Europe.
Tomorrow will bring moderate to high pollution across the South. Winds further north will lead to clearer conditions.