Young people 'at risk' from London's smog problem

London's increasing air pollution problem is placing youngsters in buggies at risk as they are pushed down the UK capital's pavements, the energy secretary has claimed.

After worried parents raised concern about smog exposure while wheeling their babies and toddlers along busy roads in pushchairs, energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey said that young people are too close to exhaust pipes that are emitting harmful diesel soot.

Mr Davey told London's Evening Standard that he will now press Mayor of London Boris Johnson to "step up the battle" against smog and encourage a more rapid transition to electric vehicles with zero emissions.

The minister has also suggested that Mr Johnson implements new 'smog alerts' at bus stops and other hubs around the city, as well as on the Transport for London website, to warn pedestrians and other road users.

"If you had electric vehicles, [children] would not be exposed. If you had low emission vehicles, they would not be exposed. But at the moment they are vulnerable if they are being pushed down congested high streets. In a buggy, they are at near exhaust pipe level," Mr Davey commented.

According to the energy secretary, it is "vital" to public health that the issue is taken more seriously, and he accused the mayor of failing to deliver on his vow to ensure London spearheads the electric car revolution.

While Mr Davey did praise Mr Johnson for the Boris Bike scheme and his repeated calls for a car tax to tackle local air pollution, he concluded that central government also needs to do more to improve air quality.

"Boris is pulling every lever that he can - it's not unreasonable to ask the government to do its bit too."