The Secretary of State for Environment has announced a plan to combat the high level of air pollution within cities and towns throughout the UK.

In an interview with Radio Four this morning that a £3billion package will be implemented to tackle the progress made on air pollution.

£200million will go to local authorities to help them implement the plan moving forward.

Southend is among the most affected areas in the country as a report from the British Lung Foundation showed.

The seaside town is in the top 45 towns or cities in the country that the air pollution level is deemed by the foundation as 'deeply concerning'.

Although the new plan is going to be a national issue, the environmental secretary has declared that it is up to local councillors to come up with the best way of dealing with the plan in their areas.

Mr Gove said: "What we're saying to local authorities is come up with an imaginative solution to these proposals."