A group of anti-pollution activists have marched on Lewisham to promote clean air in the borough.

The Clean Air for Catford group, which was set up in June, staged a march on Saturday, September 21 calling for measures to clean up the air around schools.

The 100-strong group of protesters have called for School Streets, where roads around schools are closed to traffic during drop off and pick up time.

They have also asked Lewisham Council to consider planting ‘green screens’ of hedges around school playgrounds to create barriers to air pollution.

The activists were joined by Janet Daby MP and young mayor Adam Abdullah.

Janet Daby said: “I am a supporter of Lewisham Council’s School Streets scheme, which is currently being piloted.

“This measure reduces the number of parked and idling cars and improves air quality near our schools. I hope these will be rolled out across all schools in Lewisham East in due course.”

Clean air campaigner Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, who is awaiting a second inquest into the asthma-related death of her daughter Ella, also joined the march.

Speaking at the event, Ms Kissi-Debrah, a former head of Sixth-form, said: “Look to your right – you are breathing in the fumes created by all this traffic.

“Last year there were 4,000 young people admitted to hospital for asthma attacks; doctors worked out that 1,000 of these were caused by air pollution.

“The Government blame local authorities and local authorities blame the Government. Unless we force a change, nothing will happen.’’

James Campbell from the Clean Air for Catford group said the community needs to work together to bring in new measures that will combat air pollution.

He added: “Children, whose lungs are still developing, are much more vulnerable to air pollution than adults; it’s our duty to protect them and ensure they grow up happy and healthy.”

Lewisham mayor Damien Egan said the Council "absolutely supports" the School Streets scheme, which was piloted at Torridon Primary School last week.

He added: “The School Street pilot scheme will be continue to rolled across the academic year within the first Healthy Neighbourhood Areas, Lee Green & Lewisham, and east Sydenham. 

"If the pilot school streets are successful, we will make these schemes permanent. 

"We are also seeking to make the scheme available to schools in other parts of the borough outside the healthy neighbourhood areas, we encourage all parents to speak to their head teachers, governors, PTAs and councillors about setting up a School Street.

“The Council has supported several schools across the borough in installing Green Screens through the GLA’s Community Greening Fund and match funding."

However, he called for more support and funding from central government to extend green screens at schools across the borough.

"There is much more work to be done and in Lewisham we are extremely lucky to have a community who are passionate, engaged and want to work with us to clean up our air.”