A transport chief today ordered an urgent inquiry as dust levels from traffic soared in the centres of Bradford, Bingley and Keighley.

On three separate days in May, June and November last year the city centre readings shot above the Government's recommended levels. The figure was the same in Liverpool.

In busy Leeds the readings went over the top on only one occasions, in November. But Glasgow was Britain's blackspot, breaking the levels on 18 separate days.

The news comes as Environment Minister Michael Meacher revealed that the invisible specs of dirt which come mainly from diesel engines have been linked to cancer deaths.

Experts believe there could be health risks above that level for people with breathing problems and chest complaints.

Traffic-choked Main Street in Bingley is not included in the national comparison tables for major centres. But its local air quality station, which is monitored by Bradford Council, shows it shot past the "very high" readings - although it was slightly below Bradford.

Keighley's figures were slightly lower than Bingley's but the monitoring station is further away from the centre.

The figures coincide with a Government drive to cut the number of young asthma sufferers.

Today the chairman of Bradford Council's transportation, planning and design committee, Coun Latif Darr, said: "I am greatly concerned that the the Bradford city centre dust levels are three times higher than Leeds and would have expected it to be the other way round."

He said he would ask officers to look at the effect of work which disrupted the city during a major improvement scheme last year.

The Council's Environmental Health Pollution Manager, Brian Anderson, said the dust particles caused by traffic were a problem nationally.

It would be necessary for councils to look at different types of fuel and other modes of transport to meet the standards which Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott wanted authorities to meet by the year 2005.

Coun Marilyn Beeley, chairman of the public health committee, called for a report in six months' time after discussions between pollution officers, highways staff and other council directorates.

She said: "These figures indicate what we had suspected .''

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