Air pollution lawsuit set to go ahead despite delayed government plan

Class action on behalf of asthma suffers may still go ahead over repeated failure to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide

Lawyers are taking a class action against the government over its repeated failures to clean up illegal levels of air pollution, the Guardian can reveal, as ministers publish a long-awaited plan to reduce diesel emissions.

The unprecedented legal challenge on behalf of asthma sufferers could see ministers paying out significant compensation for allowing the nation's air to exceed legal limits for so long.