Sahara dust cloud to hit Britain tomorrow prompting toxic smog alert

Britain is on a high health alert as the impending air pollution sweeping in from the continent could cause severe issues for the country's most vulnerable people.

While Government officials added pollution levels will be high enough on Thursday to cause sore throats and itchy eyes even in healthy people. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) warned the cloud of potentially toxic smog will affect parts of the north the worst. Swathes of the south west, London, the south east, Midlands are also braced for moderate to high pollution levels.

DEFRA said people with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.

People with asthma may also find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion.

Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors.

A DEFRA spokesman said: "Adults and children with heart or lung problems are at greater risk of symptoms. "Follow your doctor's usual advice about exercising and managing your condition. "It is possible that very sensitive individuals may experience health effects even on low air pollution days."

Air pollution levels are expected to remain raised until the weekend because of a swathe of air being dragged in from Europe, particularly northern France.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Some individuals may experience increased symptoms. "The Met Office is working very closely with Defra and Public Health England (PHE) to ensure they have the most up-to-date and accurate air quality forecasts in order to provide relevant advice to the public." The weather experts said the toxic smog is due to benign high pressure which has caused air in the UK to stagnate. This means the pollution has been blown in and there is nowhere for it to go which results in an onset of haze and pollution. Experts said air pollution levels in London even this morning were already three-times the recommended European Union (EU) limit. Toxic smog that hit the UK last spring led to emergency services reporting a rise in call outs to patients with respiratory issues. This was due to a combination of dust from the Sahara, pollution from the continent and light winds. Asthma UK tonight urged sufferers to take extra care when out and about today while pollution levels are high.