NO-IDLING zones are to be introduced outside schools after town hall chiefs backed a plan to tackle air pollution.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of a motion put forward by the Liberal Democrat’s Cllr Steve Wright.

He told the chamber that proposals to fine those who left their engine running were a “small step to begin to tackle air pollution”.

And he added that while there was “no easy answer” to the issue enforcing the zones outside schools would have a significant impact.

However Tory councillor Oliver Kersh warned they may not be appropriate at schools where children have to cross busy roads to get to a parents car.

And Cllr Alan Quinn, Labour’s environment chief, said he recognised the “great importance of improving air quality” but said finding the resources for enforcing the zones would present the council with a problem.