PEOPLE across Somerset are braced for what could be the worst air pollution to hit the UK in 60 years.

Experts have warned "very high" levels of pollution are expected to sweep across parts of the country in the next few days.

The east of England and midlands are among the worst-affected areas, but large swathes of England and Wales, including the west, will see high levels of pollution, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said.

A spokesman said: "The high level of air pollution this week is due to a combination of local emissions, light winds, pollution from the continent and dust blown over from the Sahara.

"We want to keep improving air quality and have introduced a new five-day forecast service in addition to investing heavily in local and transport initiatives to tackle this issue head-on."

The high levels of pollution are expected to continue across parts of the Westcountry until Friday (April 4).

People with heart and lung conditions have been warned to avoid strenuous activity.

This week, people found their cars to be covered in a light coating of red dust. The Met Office said that a large amount of sand and dust was swept up by storm winds in the Sahara Desert.

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