Action to combat UK air pollution crisis delayed again

Ministers reject court proposal to deliver an effective plan within eight months following their legal defeat against NGO ClientEarth last week

Action to combat the UK's air pollution crisis has been delayed again after the government rejected a proposal to deliver an effective action plan within eight months.

Environmental lawyers ClientEarth inflicted a humiliating legal defeat on ministers last week - its second in 18 months - when the high court ruled that ministers' plans to tackle illegal levels of air pollution in many UK cities and towns were unlawfully poor.