LAST week, a warning was issued about air quality in Middlesbrough because of the weather conditions.

Decades ago, when I complained about itching skin and a layer of dust on my car, I was told it was my own problem. Then, in the 1980s, I received a letter from the Government about the benefits of catalytic converters that were being fitted to vehicles, and it contained a warning that there are smaller particulates that we can’t stop getting in our lungs. This was confirmed for me recently when, after walking around an industrial estate near the A19, I was ill for days.

The Boro warning was blamed on calm weather conditions, but we’ve had rotten air on a number of nights.

Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Billingham are in the main fall-out area for the incinerators which we now have, particularly during the warmer months when we get south and east winds.

Instead of building on what’s left of our tiny bits of green space, our councillors should be increasing that space, especially around high rise apartments.

All those towns which don’t have incinerators should count their blessings, although chimney dust spreads far and wide.

C Davison, Billingham.