EXPERTS have warned that children may need masks to protect them from toxic pollution as they head to school if no action is taken against fumes.

New figures have revealed dangerous levels of toxic pollutants across the North-East.

The results, carried out by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP), name Stockton as the region's pollution hotspot.

The CSP is today calling on Britain's unions to unite behind its fight for cleaner air at the Trade Union Council's Congress in Brighton.

The society wants unions to encourage workers to avoid taking their vehicles to work in order to reduce fumes.

In a table of results, Stockton has the highest levels of pollution in the region, with 27mcg/m3, and Newcastle the lowest with 17.

Readings taken from January to August revealed high levels of the toxic pollutant PM10, which is mainly emitted by diesel engines.

CSP chairman Grahame Pope said: "No parent wants to see their children off to school in a face mask, but unless the Government, car manufacturers and drivers do their bit to improve air quality, this is possible. Fresh air is a right, not a privilege. But our latest readings show no progress has been made towards cleaning up the filth we breathe since the CSP started looking at air quality in January."

Respiratory physiotherapists say inhaling the highly toxic PM10 pollutant can cause breathing difficulties and the consequences can be far more serious for people with lung diseases. The World Health Organisation believes there is no safe limit for exposure to this pollutant.

London's Marylebone Road has the highest levels in the country with a reading of 41 mcg/m3. The UK average is 22.