Islington Council is “not going to stand by” and wait for the transport industry to improve air quality.

The claim comes as it was one of the only London authorities to mark “World Car Free Day” on Thursday.

Held in Islington Green, the educational event for schoolchildren promoted sustainable transport and the effect of air pollution.

It won’t have been lost on angry homeowners who live around Highbury Fields. They claimed this summer that council policy to allow barbecues on the green space is allowing too much PM2.5, a toxic particle, into the air.

But environment leader Cllr Claudia Webbe said: “We seized upon World Car Free Day as the perfect opportunity to start changing attitudes and making people care for the air we share. Educational activities like these are a central part of our efforts.

“We can only tackle air pollution successfully if we all work together. But we are not going to stand by and wait for the motor industry and governments to act. This is about people’s quality of life now and for years to come.”