Sinn Fein is calling for "urgent action" to be taken to improve air pollution in Northern Ireland.

The World Health Organisation revealed that the quality of air in Belfast, Armagh and L'Derry exceeded the recommended limit of safe exposure to particles, with Armagh's air quality level nearly as bad as those recorded in London.

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Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan said: "Long term exposure to air that exceeds the limit is linked to the development of heart disease and other illnesses and over 500 deaths in the North per year are attributed to air pollution. This represents more deaths per year than road traffic collisions and passive smoking combined. Clearly, urgent cross-departmental action is needed to improve the standard of air quality here."

(CD/LM)