More than half a million pounds is se tot be given to Buckinghamshire Council to help improve air pollution in the county.

Local authorities across England have been granted more than £11 million in government funding to deliver projects to improve air quality following the death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, aged nine, in south east London back in 2013.

It was ruled at an inquest in 2020 that air pollution played a part in her death after an asthma attack.

Buckinghamshire Council has been allocated £578,000 to renovate a 10-year-old Dennis Eagle 26-tonne bin lorry to include an electric power train, installation of a telematics system, as well as five years worth of replacement parts.

They have also been given £91,273 to purchase and trial electronic diffusion tubes implemented by the public, which are commonly used to measure levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air, and to pay for community engagement focused on schools.

The cash is part of the government’s Air Quality Grant.

Agri-innovation and Climate Adaptation Minister Jo Churchill said: "Air pollution is the single biggest environmental risk to public health. It has reduced significantly since 2010, but we know there is more to do, which is why we have doubled the amount of funding awarded this year to help local authorities take vital action.

"The projects supported by this latest round of funding include innovative local schemes to boost the use of green transport, increase monitoring of fine particulate matter – the most harmful pollutant to human health – and improve awareness of the risks of poor air quality around schools and in care homes.

"Local authorities are best placed to find solutions to the issues they face in their areas, and we will continue to work closely with them and offer support to help deliver real change in cleaning up our air."