NO-ONE can afford to ignore Bradford’s worsening air pollution.

More than 220 deaths per year in our district are directly-related to it as well as countless other cases of people who need medical treatment for breathing difficulties.

But, as we report today, three more areas are at risk of breaching national pollution limits to join the four which already exceed them.

To give Bradford Council some credit, it is an issue it has been trying to address and in 2013 it became only the second local authority in the country to introduce a Low Emission Strategy.

That brought with it plans to encourage the take-up of low-emission vehicles, support car-share schemes and encourage people to cycle.

Clearly, however, that hasn’t been enough.

Fumes and exhaust emissions, particularly from diesel engines, are being blamed as the primary cause of air quality problems.

And with some of our roads regularly choked with traffic it is evident that a more direct approach is needed.

Clean Air Zones are now being introduced by the Government in neighbouring Leeds and five other cities which will being in charges for the use of diesel vehicles in certain areas.

Bradford is said to be in the next wave for that to happen.

It is now obvious that previous incentives to encourage people out of their cars in favour of alternative transport have done little to reduce or even stabilise congestion levels.

Maybe it is high time the carrot was replaced with the stick.

Our lives could depend on it.