AN average of almost five people die prematurely in Somerset every week due to small particles polluting the air we breathe, according to Public Health England.

The 244 deaths from black carbon amount to 2,350 years of life lost in the county, while other pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide add to the burden.

Somerset County Council, on behalf of the multi-agency Somerset Air Quality Steering Group, is now seeking the views of the community on a draft Somerset Air Quality Strategy.

Air quality has been in the headlines in recent years, with concerns over vehicle exhaust emissions in particular, when real world testing showed emissions were often many times those found in controlled laboratory conditions.

Air quality in Somerset is generally good, but in our major towns traffic pollution leads at times to relatively high levels of some pollutants which have harmful effects on health.

People are now being asked to answer a series of questions to help shape the final version of the draft strategy.

Cllr Christine Lawrence, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing at Somerset County Council, said: "We are very lucky in Somerset not to suffer from the poor air quality that sometimes afflicts nearby cities such as Bristol.

"But we do have some hotspots, and even where EU standards are met, at certain times and places, when unfavourable weather and traffic conditions coincide, air at busy roads and junctions is certainly not clean.

"Many may not realise that the people inside cars are often the worst exposed, because the air intakes at the front of the car pull in air from the exhaust pipe of the car in front. We can all help to reduce this burden on public health in the choices we make."

The Somerset Air Quality website provides information and support for individuals, schools, councils, businesses and developers.

It is intended to help the community understand the issues and what they can do to improve the air in their local areas.

People, businesses and local authorities can all make a difference to air quality and public health.

Other recommendations include having a consistent approach to requiring air quality assessments as part of planning applications for major new developments; businesses and public authorities using procurement, licensing and financial approaches to accelerate progress towards use of cleaner vehicles; and monitoring of very fine particulate pollution.

You can have your say on the recommendations in the air quality strategy by clicking here and answering the questions before the end of September.