SIR - John Cole (T&A letters) says the UK government has "blood on its hands" because it didn't impose lockdown soon enough. Some say the lockdown itself will cause more death and damage than Covid-19 would have done without it.

I would like to inform John and those who say there isn't enough lockdown that according to official WHO figures, air pollution kills far more people than Covid-19 has, or ever will. Affecting the young much more. Some official estimates are up to 9 million air pollution related deaths a year. These illnesses include heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis and asthma. Caused mainly by heavy traffic and industrialisation reliant on fossil fuels producing harmful pollutants. These figures obviously don't include traffic accidents and the obesity crisis which are further consequences.

What's interesting about this is that people don't care and most of those who spread panic about coronavirus drive cars. Deaths caused by poor air quality are almost never mentioned in social circles, even as a counter Covid-19 comparison. Normal flu is often used as a comparison by those who oppose the lockdown measures.

Blood on their hands? What about soot in our lungs?

Alan Bates, Bowland Avenue, Baildon