A symbolic Walk and Cycle Ride has marked the arrival of Newcastle's Clean Air Zone. Enjoy our Picture Gallery! - there's also been extensive coverage on BBC and Tyne Tees news, BBC Radio Newcastle and other local and social media. #WeLoveCleanerAir! More info on our campaign can be seen here.
Climate Action Newcastle's Jacky Doran said: "It's wonderful to start 2023 with good news for our health and the planet - we're delighted at this positive change to reduce carbon emissions and improve the lives of local residents."
And Ride for Their Lives organiser Heather Lambert said reduced traffic pollution will especially help children and vulnerable adults, who are amongst approx 36,000 people who die every year in the UK.
More than two dozen families and doctors took part, representing Mums for Lungs, Streetlife, Ride For Their Lives and Climate Action Newcastle.
Messages of support were sent by resident, health and climate groups, and by Northumbria University that hosted the start of the event.
Schoolgirl Ella Kissi-Debrah was especially remembered - her tragic death was the UK's first to be officially recognised as caused by air pollution. Our Cleaner Air campaign urges support for "Ella's Law" - please check how you can help to win this and protect others.
Ride For Their Lives are doctors who've seen first hand the damage to the health of people of all ages that this "invisible killer" causes. They cycled to COP26 in Glasgow and took part in long-distance rides to deliver the same message to COP27. Recently retired paediatrician Heather Lambert tells us more about their campaign in her blog - including why they wanted to welcome the new signs we can all celebrate around the CAZ boundary! - see below.
Thank you to volunteer photographer Chris - great pix of a memorable event!