Britain’s cities are comparatively free of particulate matter PM10, which is emitted from vehicles and can cause serious respiratory problems, the latest survey from the European Environment Agency has found.

It said the highest urban concentrations were observed in Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and western Balkan cities.

Northern Italy’s Po Valley, parts of Belgium and the Netherlands, and southern Spain are the worst affected.