People in parts of Kent with high levels of pollution are being warned to stay indoors if they suffer from ill health.

Air quality warnings have been issued for Rainham and Sittingbourne today which advise vulnerable residents to reduce activities outside if they have heart or lung conditions.

The alert from the air pollution website KentAir says: "Adults and children with lung problems and adults with heart problems who experience symptoms should consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors."

The warning is based on data from the government's Daily Air Quality Index.

Similarly, weather experts AccuWeather list the air quality in Rainham and Sittingbourne today as poor.

The website states: "The air has reached a high level of pollution and is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Reduce time spent outside if you are feeling symptoms such as difficulty breathing or throat irritation."

The Rainham Eco Hub has just launched an air quality survey as part of its mission to help improve air quality in the town.

The group plans to use the feedback to help shape how they can play a role in making some positive changes in the area.

Liz O'Hanlon, from the group, said: "Air quality in Rainham is really poor. The area around the High Street is the worst. You have a series of traffic lights there which are close together so you have people stopping and starting, and idling.

"Contributing factors are the removal of trees and other greenery, paving over gardens and the increase in cars because of over development in the area.

"As part of our work on air quality we will be sharing the air quality alerts and letting people know when air quality is forecast to be poor.

"We want to help people stay safe and for people to understand the impact of things such as more cars on the road and cutting down trees."

Medway Council has been awarded government funding for two projects which tackle air quality.

Some of the cash will be used for an anti-idling campaign in Rainham which will encourage motorists to switch off their engines when they are not moving.

The rest will go towards a taxi and private hire ultra-low emission vehicle feasibility study.

But Liz does not think the plans go far enough.

"You can do all the anti-idling campaigns you want," she said. "But if you keep adding more people to our town you are not going to see true change.

"The deep root causes of the problems are not being addressed.

"People might switch off their engines for a bit, but then they will go back to their old habits. You haven't solved the issue."

She added: "We need to look at the local infrastructure and why, for instance, people do not let their children bike to school. It is because the routes are not safe for cyclists. Why not make a road like Orchard Street one way and add a cycle lane?"

To sign up to air quality alerts from KentAir click here.