A shock report released today has revealed that Slough suffers the highest proportion of pollution related deaths in the South East.

The report has been prepared by the the charity Centre for Cities - which carries out independent research into how economic growth and change in the United Kingdom's cities and large towns is affecting the population.

It states that the proportion of pollution related deaths of adults aged 25 or more comes to a shocking 6.4 per cent in Slough - representing 49 deaths a year.

The second worse ranking town is Chatham - 137 estimated deaths. But its much larger population makes the proportion percentage only 6.3 per cent.

PM2.5 is a lethal pollutant made up of tiny particles in the air and can penetrate deeply into the lung, irritating and corroding vital tissue.

The charity is calling for low emission zones similar to the one in London across towns and cities in the South East most affected by pollution.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: "The deadly levels of polluted air in the South East are entirely legal. This needs to change.

"Politicians often talk tough on addressing air pollution but we need to see more action."

"To help, the Government needs to provide the South East's councils with extra money and introduce stricter guidelines.

"As a matter of urgency the Government should adopt the World Health Organisation's stricter guidelines around PM2.5 emissions. Failure to act now will lead to more deaths in the South East."

The charity is also calling on the Government to make securing plans with the EU to tackle cross border air pollution a key component of any future relationship.

Katrin Enenkel, senior analyst with Centre for Cities, said: "Air pollution is invisible. But lots of people are dying. Death from air pollution is 20 times more frequent than deaths from traffic accidents."