TWO major sites have been named as the most polluted in Rossendale.

An excess amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been found at the bus station in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, and the roundabout near the Tesco in Haslingden.

A series of tests will be launched at both sites during the next 12 months by the council in a bid to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses.

The council report states that NO2 is produced by vehicle exhaust emissions and is worse in places prone to heavy traffic flow or where vehicles move slowly.

Principal environmental health officer, Lorna Robinson said: “The good news is that our monitoring at five sites has shown that they are consistently below the established threshold.

“Therefore, monitoring is no longer required at Burnley Road in Bacup, Bacup Road in Waterfoot, the Cuba Industrial site in Stubbins, Burnley Road East and at Market Street in Whitworth.

“Haslingden Road End and Bacup Road in Rawtenstall have marginally exceeded the threshold, so further monitoring and a more detailed assessment will take place.”

Experts say poor air quality has a direct negative impact on the local standard of health, causes shortened life expectancy and aggravates illnesses includ-ing asthma and bronchitis.

In neighbouring Blackburn and Darwen, £1m has been spent in recent years on improving traffic lights and roads to reduce congestion in a bid to tackle NO2 at five hotspots.