West Midlands residents can now get pollution alerts straight to their phones
The region's Mayor said air pollution has a "devastating effect"
The West Midlands' first air quality alert system was switched on today.
The system, known as Clean Air West Midlands, will allow residents to sign up for real-time alerts, to be sent directly to their mobile phone whenever pollution in their area reaches potentially dangerous levels.
Clean Air West Midlands says 2,300 people die every year in the region due to long-term exposure to air pollution.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added: "Dirty air has a devastating effect on lives.
"We need to ensure that good air quality is an essential, not a luxury."
Mayor Parker also pointed to new electric buses, increased walking and cycling routes, and nature restoration as steps the West Midlands Combined Authority were taking to improve air quality.
The alert system receives information from a network of 90 air quality sensors outside homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and sports centres.
These sensors detect microscopic particles from wood burners, vehicle tyres, building sites and factories, as well as high levels of nitrogen dioxide from roads and industrial sites.