Chideock Parish Council is calling on Dorset Council to install monitors to assess pollution in the village.

Following Chideock's pollution problem being highlighted on BBC's Countryfile earlier this month, the parish council is urging West Dorset MP Chris Loder to help get PM2.5 monitors in the village.

PM2.5 is tiny particles that come from brakes and tyres and are so small they can get into the lungs and into the blood stream.

Chideock Parish Council welcomed the renewed focus by Countryfile on the problem of pollution in rural locations.

A spokesman said: "The programme shared the results of the first ever particulate matter reading – specifically for PM2.5 – taken with a handheld monitoring device, which showed that Chideock does have a particulate matter pollution problem which can be directly attributed to the particulates from brake dust.

"Yet, at the same time the programme then went on to state that this type of pollution is more common from burning untreated wood in log burners.

"It is important that Chideock Parish Council points out that the BBC recorded this programme in September on a sunny and windy day – there was no evidence of wood burners in use.

"Therefore, Chideock Parish Council is directly calling on our MP, Chris Loder, to support our continuous request of Dorset Council, who is the responsible body accountable to DEFRA, for PM2.5 monitors to be put in place in Chideock in order that the full extent of particulate pollution can be accurately assessed."

Chideock was recently named by Friends of the Earth as the worst place in England for NO2 pollution.

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "Dorset Council does not monitor for either PM10 or PM2.5 within its air quality management areas. The suggested monitoring in Chideock would not prove any significant additional data to the already declared area.

"Highways England is already in the process of reviewing measures to positively impact upon the emissions of NO2, and subsequently, this piece of work would also positively contribute to the vehicle-related sources of particulates within the area. PM2.5 monitoring would not affect this work."

A speed limit reduction to 30mph on Chideock Hill towards Morcombelake is currently in place to monitor traffic pollution. This has been put in place by Highways England as it is thought motorists accelerate heavily upon making the steep climb and this acceleration then filters down into the village.

Calls for a bypass around the village have as yet been unsuccessful and date back to 1993. The issue was raised again in 2016 and residents are still fighting for a road around the village. For more information, visit chideockbypass.co.uk