People in Richmond with real coal fires or wood burning appliances are being encouraged not to use them this winter.

The Council says it is trying to reduce “dangerous air pollution” in the borough.

The authority says even the most modern wood-burning stoves produce health-damaging particles.

It is estimated that around 4,000 premature deaths occur each year in London due to long-term exposure to air pollution.

Around 280 are said to be attributable to domestic wood burning.