Volunteers are being recruited to encourage drivers to switch of their engines when stationary and so cut emissions and pollution.

Teams will be taking to the streets to ask parents outside schools or waiting in queues at level crossings to switch off their engines.

Drivers who refuse face the risk of getting a £20 fixed penalty notice, which doubles to £40 if not paid within 28 days.

The first of a new series of 'idling action events' will be held tomorrow – Tuesday – in Mortlake/Sheen by Richmond Council's Air Quality Team.

The Team is looking for 'hi-vis volunteers' to help with this event and others planned across the borough.

The Council said a large proportion of air pollution in London is from traffic and idling vehicle engines are often an unnecessary source of pollutants.

Car idling produces up to 150 balloons of exhaust emissions per minute which contains harmful chemicals like cyanide, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and tiny particles called PM2.5

Air pollution affects the health of everybody, but especially younger and older people, as well as those with health conditions such as asthma, lung or heart disease.

The Idling Action events involve pairs of volunteers approaching stationary vehicles at our chosen location and politely asking drivers to switch off.

Volunteers explain that we are doing this to reduce the localised air pollution created by traffic to help protect the health of residents.

A spokesman said: "We do some myth busting about idling and many drivers are surprised to learn that the air pollution inside their vehicle is probably much higher than outside – especially if they and other cars are idling."

This issue is particularly important because of the links between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality and the ruling in the recent Ella Kissi-Debrah inquest, that air pollution contributed to the nine year old's death.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is associated with lung inflammation and can trigger asthma symptoms from short-term exposure, while long-term exposure to higher concentrations of NO2 can impair lung development in children and can contribute to serious conditions such as asthma and heart and lung disease, as presented in reports from Public Heath England and the World Health Organisation.

Idling is an offence in law under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, which makes it a requirement for drivers to switch off engines in stationary vehicles.

Drivers who are caught idling by our civil enforcement officers will be asked to turn off their engines and warned that failing to do so will lead to a fine.

If the driver refuses to switch off their engine after the request, they will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £20. The notice must be paid within 28 days, or it will increase to £40