A RUNCORN road is going to top North West pollution charts in 2005 unless the Government takes fast action, according to Friends of the Earth.

The A533 between Moor Lane and Weston Point Expressway will turn into the North West's most polluting road by 2005, with the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions.

Government estimates suggest that the level of nitrogen dioxide emitted into the air around that road will be 29.3 parts per billion (ppb) by 2005 unless there is a drastic cut in emissions from traffic.

This will be 8.3ppb above the recommended standard.

"Thousands of people in the North West will still be suffering health-threatening pollution unless we act now," said FoE spokesman Tony Bosworth.

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