People in Cornwall joined thousands of others up and down the country on National Clean Air Day (June 21) in doing their bit to improve air quality.

Cornwall Council staged idling awareness events with partners in St Austell, Camelford and Launceston. 

Volunteers from the town councils spoke with drivers waiting in traffic queues, loading bays and parking areas giving advice about the benefits of switching off their car engines when stationary for a minute or more.

Residents joined in by making personal pledges to help improve air quality. 

These included leaving the car at home for the day and walking or cycling to work, using public transport, switching off their car engine when stationary in traffic, working at home, and checking out greener vehicles.

Sue James, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and public protection, said: ‘I would like to thank everyone who took part in National Clean Air Day.  It provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our driving habits that are affecting our own and others’ health.  If every one of us could commit to a small change, we could together make a big difference to local air quality. I’d like people to consider turning off their engine when stuck in traffic, changing their vehicle to a less polluting one and to consider car sharing.

‘It is car drivers themselves who are most affected by harmful emissions. In our cars we are exposed to twice as much pollution as those walking and nine times as much as those cycling.’

There’s more information about Clean Air Day and ideas for reducing air pollution on the Clean Air Day page at cornwall.gov.uk