Harwell is one of the smoggiest places in Britain, it is claimed.

The village has been placed 15th in a chart of the worst areas in the UK complied by Friends of the Earth.

It was compiled from Government data covering 70 sites which monitor pollution levels in the UK.

The league table counts the number of days areas have ozone levels higher than Government safety levels.

Exeter took the top slot with 24 days.

But Harwell had ten days where pollution was higher than accepted levels - the same number as Thurrock, in Essex, and only two days less than Teddington, in south west London.

Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner, was responsible for compiling the list.

He said Harwell came fourth in the league table for smog for the 12 months of last year but said he believed the problem was still as bad this year.

He said the latest figures were only for half a year and that the bad weather this year also meant smog levels seemed to be lower.

He said: "There is probably just as much pollution. The problem is that somewhere like Harwell is probably getting pollution prevailing from London."

Mr Bosworth said the findings of the whole report were very disturbing.

He said: "One of the impacts is that levels trigger asthma attacks and Government health experts estimate this sort of pollution may be causing up to 12,500 premature deaths every year nationwide."

Campaigners believe the only way to reduce levels is to reduce traffic. LEAGUE TABLE

This year's summer league table with the number of days levels exceeded Government health standards. 1. Exeter: 24 days over health standard

2. Lullington Heath, a national nature reserve on the South Downs in Sussex: 22

3. Yarner Wood, moorland in

Devon: 21

4. Farmland near the village of Sibton, Suffolk: 18

5. Brent: 18

6. Rochester: 16

7. Reading: 15

8. Somerton, Somerset: 14

9. High Muffles, a forested area on the North York Moors: 14

10. Aston Hill, a hilltop near Bishop's Castle, Shropshire: 13

11. Teddington, South west London: 13

12. Redcar,

Cleveland: 12

13.Thurrock,

Essex: 10

14. Eskdalemuir, near Gretna Green, 10

15. Harwell: 10

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