Pollution levels at the Dartford Crossing have not been reported to the EU by the government because it had been classed as a ‘rural road.’

According to the BBC, the A282 stretch of road was omitted from air quality assessments by the government meaning that nitrogen levels around the bridge and tunnel were not reported to the EU.

The road has now been reclassified.

The Department for Transport, which is the body responsible for road classification, confirmed the rural status was “incorrect.”

Dartford Borough Council spotted the error because the stretch was not included in the government’s National Air Quality plan.

Keith Kelly, the councillor for transport and infrastructure, said the mistake was spotted when the council noticed discrepancies related to Dartford in a report sent to the EU about pollution.

He said: "The Department of Transport misclassified the approach road and any readings related to that location have been ignored.

"We have had confirmation that it has been fixed.

"There had been a general downward trend in pollution levels but this has changed, the volume of traffic using the crossing is not free flowing. There are a number of hotspots in Dartford, including the town centre.

"I think this was an error because if you think Dartford Crossing you think M25, an A road could be misinterpreted."

The councillor said that pollution data issues at the crossing show a need for an alternative Thames crossing.

He said: "This shows the need to move traffic away from Dartford, we regularly have 150,000 drivers at a crossing built for much less.

"There are no alternatives, this shows a move should be urgent. It is common sense to move. We are talking about the health of residents."

The head of transport said the eight lane dual-carriageway splits the town, and was concerned about the health of residents living nearby.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has promised to include data in future assessments reported to the EU.

Public Health England has estimated Dartford has one the highest percentage of deaths attributed to long term exposure to particle air pollution in Kent.

According to a 2010 PHE report, approximately 6.7 per cent of deaths in Dartford are attributable to particle air pollution.