North West Leicestershire is one of two of the county's district councils to get funding to raise awareness of - and tackle - air pollution.

A successful joint-bid for funding will help also help Harborough District Council address the issue.

The councils say they will use the funding, totalling just over £27,000, to improve knowledge of 'particulate matter' – the term for solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air – and raise awareness of its potential impact on health.

The funding, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Air Quality Grant Programme, will cover the cost of purchasing monitoring equipment to help understand local levels of particles in the air released through the burning of solid fuel or wood stoves, etc, which is more common in rural areas.

The authorities will also look to raise awareness of the potential impact burning solid fuel can have on health and the environment.

The aim is to increase monitoring to provide data and information about local concentrations, how concentrations vary across the districts, and the impact of different sources such as solid fuel burners on air quality.

But Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has already tried to address the problem in this area.

Last December, the council commissioned air quality consultants M-EC to conduct a survey due to councillors' fears that residents were being 'poisoned' by the levels of traffic on the A42 and Nottingham Road.

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A meeting of the council's planning committee discussed the findings of the £4,000 report and said they have been disputed by a local resident.

Ashby Town Council to challenge findings of £4,000 air pollution report.

Councillor Andrew Woodman, NWLDC Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: "Solid fuel burners are becoming increasingly popular, and are seen as a more natural way to produce heat for homes.

"It is important that we do look at the potential impact that burning solid fuel can have on people's health, and the quality of the air we breathe.

"This joint project is a great way to share learning from both districts and will help to shape our approach to improving air quality where there are concerns."