Fifteen Barnet schools are located where pollution breaches EU legal limits.

Barnet Labour released information yesterday showing 15 schools in the borough located where levels of nitrogen dioxide breach legal limits.

Wentworth Tutorial College are situated in the worst affected area, which measured 52 micrograms of the gas per cubic metre compared to the legal limit of 40 micrograms, despite the council being awarded the Cleaner Air Borough accreditation.

West Hendon Labour Cllr Adam Langleben said: “Children are more vulnerable to the effects of pollution, and there is a link to increased asthma and severity of asthma and other respiratory diseases.

“Thousands of deaths are caused by pollution each year in London - it's a public health emergency.”

A further 42 schools are located where air tests showed levels close to the legal limit, between 35-40 micrograms per cubic metre.

Other schools high on the list were Beis Soroh Schneirer, Torah Vodaas, Mapledown School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, all of which are located in the Hendon and Brent Cross area.

Barnet Friends of the Earth member Philip Fletcher said: “Air pollution is a massive and grave problem, even in leafy Barnet.”

Cllr Langleben added: “"It's been a year since the Environment Committee discussed the Council's Air Quality Action Plan, and it would be good to get an update on how things are progressing, and what has been done to reduce pollution around these schools with the highest levels of NO2."

Barnet Green Party, Barnet Friends of the Earth and Barnet Residents’ Association also held a public meeting on Thursday, 23 March at St John the Baptist, High Barnet, to discuss solutions to combat rising air pollution.