Schoolchildren in Putney are being exposed to levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) more than 50 per cent above the recommended safe level, according to research by the Putney Society.

The society conducted tests on air quality levels between February 14 and March 20 across 29 locations in Putney and 15 of those places had exceeded recommended European Union guidelines on safe levels of NO2.

Of the 15, eight of those were more than 50 per cent higher than the limit.

May 29: Sadiq Khan to probe NO2 pollution as report reveals link between deprivation and poor air quality

January 22: Tesco fined £130 after flouting Putney High Street delivery ban

Levels in Putney Hill, where Putney High School, and the neighbouring Merlin School are based, are in an area of particularly high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The society has welcomed plans by Transport for London (TfL) to introduce an ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) in central London.

Judith Chegwidden, chairman of Putney Society said: "Our research confirms unsustainable levels of NO2 throughout Putney. The proposed ULEZ should be extended beyond central London to include areas like Putney where pollution levels are dangerous and unacceptable.

"We welcome Mayor Khan’s plans to consult on possibly extending the area of the ULEZ to areas inside the North and South Circulars and also consider bringing forward the introduction earlier than 2020.

"The proposed ULEZ will need to be tightly controlled. All vehicles breaching EU limits in real road tests, not the laboratory ones, which are too easily cheated, should be banned from the extended ULEZ."

January 8: Putney High Street exceeds harmful gas emission just eight days into the year

November 23: Vans to be banned on Putney High Street from January in bid to improve air quality

According to Mrs Chegwidden, levels were breached in three of six locations near schools and in one case, it was almost double the recommended level - and in the other two they were near the limit.

Putney has had a series of issues with air quality, including breaching its annual limit for Nitrogen Dioxide within eight days of 2016.

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said: "Real-time data from the council’s permanent air quality monitoring stations confirm pollution levels on Putney High Street have come down in recent years as a series of interventions have taken effect including upgrades to Transport for London’s bus fleet.

"We have also banned delivery vehicles from stopping here during the day and made changes to the road system to ease traffic congestion, but there is still a long way to go before pollution levels reach an acceptable level.

"The council’s 2011 air quality investigation exposed the pollution issue on Putney High Street and provided the evidence base to bring Transport for London and other partners to the table. We will work with the new Mayor to explore all options for accelerating the improvements we have made in here so far."