A TRAFFORD environmental group is backing moves by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to crack down on the use of wood-burning stoves.

Mr Khan has put forward proposals to combat air pollution that could see wood burning stoves banned in some areas.

Trafford’s Breathe Clean Air Group says it fully supports Mr Khan's efforts.

The Breathe Clean Air Group chairman, Pete Kilvert, said: “Sadiq Khan’s statement is a clear call to other regional leaders such as Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester.

"BCAG has already flagged up the dangers of wood-burning stoves with Mr Burnham, informing him that air pollution is not just about nitrogen dioxide pollution from road traffic. Industry, incineration, power generation and fracking will also produce masses of particulate matter and toxic gases and should be control effectively.”

There are about 1.5 million wood-burning stoves in the UK according to the Stove Industry Alliance and increasing by 200,000 per year. The Government has estimated around 2.2 million house-holds in the UK burn wood, with about half of them using wood-burning stoves and half burning wood on open fires.

According to Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution (DSAWSP), children are amongst the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of Particulate air pollution. Children breathe faster and inhale more pollutants in proportion to their body weight than do adults. Their immune systems and organs are still developing. Particulate pollution has been shown to affect lung function and lung development.

Children’s lungs continue to develop though adolescence. During infancy, the developing lung is highly susceptible to damage from environmental pollutants, including those from wood smoke.

“Our leaders must not ignore the evidence about the danger to health of wood smoke,” said Mr Kilvert.