AIR quality in Darlington can be assessed on a daily basis for the first time.

An air monitoring station to check the level of traffic pollution has been set up next to the town's inner ring road.

Darlington Borough Council has installed the station on St Cuthbert's Way, near the Marks and Spencer store, to monitor small particles known as PM-10s, thought to be one of the major causes of pollution-related ill health.

It will also measure levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Air quality monitoring has been carried out in Darlington for some years, with samples being sent away for analysis and results returned within a month.

Now environmental health officers will be able to assess the quality of air in the town every day, for the station provides information every eight hours.

Stephen Harker, the council's cabinet member for community protection, said: "Air quality in Darlington is good, but we cannot afford to be complacent.

"Traffic levels have grown significantly in recent years and road traffic is now the biggest cause of air pollution within the town.

"The monitoring station will provide information to help maintain good air quality and reduce pollution from traffic."

A recent review of air quality in the Tees Valley region confirms that traffic, rather than industry, is the main source of air pollution in Darlington.

The review also confirms that levels of pollutants in Darlington are within national air quality standards.