ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners will launch a clean air charter for Oxfordshire to tackle high levels of air pollution.

Oxford Friends of the Earth has drawn up a series of policies to reduce toxic emissions, which have reached illegal levels in the city centre.

The Oxfordshire Clean Air Charter will urge local authorities to control polluting vehicles, promote a long-term shift away from car use and create safe streets for walking and cycling.

It will also call for more investment to improve public transport across the county.

It also calls for Oxford's Zero Emission Zone - to be introduced in phases from 2020 - to be accelerated.

Oxford Friends of the Earth spokesman, Chris Church, said: "There is a great deal of public concern about air quality and our councils acknowledge this.

"But that concern has not yet translated into adequate action.

"There are things that can be done in the next two years to improve matters, as well as longer-term changes."

The charter also calls for a 'freight consolidation centre', enforced in Bath and Bristol to cut the number of delivery vehicle journeys and specific investment to upgrade the railway between Oxford and Didcot to four lines.

It will be officially launched on Thursday with supporters gathering in St Clement's Street - the most polluted street in Oxford - at 4pm.

A protest will also take place in Wallingford and other towns may follow suit.