High levels of pollution expected to clear

The south east, east Midlands,Yorkshire and Humberside, north west and Merseyside and the north east are still suffering from "high" air pollution levels, Defra has warned.

A fresh air mass arriving later today is expected to push the pollution eastwards over the North Sea.

Read: High levels of pollution expected to clear

Find out if your area is still affected at the Defra website here

The number of people experiencing breathing problems increased by 34 per cent on Thursday, London Ambulance Service has said.

The capital experienced "very high" pollution levels yesterday but air quality is expected to improve today.

Read: Boris: 'I cycled this morning and it seemed fine to me'

Daybreak's Chief Correspondent Richard Gaisford tweeted from London's Parliament Hill:

Environmental campaigners have urged politicians not to ignore the cloud of smog that has smothered parts of the UK over the last few days, saying they are "playing with people's lives".

Friends of the Earth's Jane Thomas told Daybreak, "29,000 people a year die prematurely in London alone" from pollution created by emissions.

Read: High levels of pollution expected to clear

Air pollution levels remain high across parts of England and Wales but are expected to reduce later today.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reports that more than 20 areas from northern England down to the South East are still gripped by high levels of pollution this morning.

But a fresh air mass arriving later is expected to push the pollution eastwards over the North Sea, weather forecasters have said.

Read more: Advice for asthma sufferers as high pollution levels hit parts of the UK

Pollution levels remain 'high' across England and south Wales and 'very high' in London, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said.

Read: Sharp rise in 999 calls as parts of UK hit by smog

Showery outbreaks of rain will persist overnight across northern England and much of Scotland.

Misty and murky conditions will be forming out toward the North Sea coast, and we are still pulling up that polluted air from the south-east.

Things will be changing overnight, however - a south-westerly air flow will feed in much cleaner, fresher air.

Read: Sharp rise in 999 calls as parts of the UK are hit by smog

Defra have issued health advice for at-risk individuals as 'very high' pollution levels hit London.

London Ambulance Service revealed earlier that there had been a 14 per cent rise in the number of people calling 999 for help with breathing difficulties.

Read: Ambulance service report 14% rise in breathing call outs

The number of 999 calls from north-west patients struggling with breathing problems has soared by 15% this week, the region's ambulance has said.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the North West Ambulance Service has seen 985 such calls between Sunday and Wednesday compared to 858 between in the previous four days.

A spokeswoman for the service told the newspaper that while the increase appeared to be linked to an increase in pollution levels, the cause was not completely certain.

Read: Rise in 999 calls as parts of UK hit by heavy air pollution