Dartford Crossing excluded from pollution assessments

Pollution levels around the Dartford Crossing have been excluded from government air quality assessments because it was classed as a "rural" road, the BBC has discovered.

Despite carrying 50 million vehicles a year, the status meant nitrogen dioxide recordings were not reported to the EU.

Consisting of the Dartford Tunnel and QEII Bridge, the crossing - officially known as the A282 - connects the M25 north and south of the River Thames.

It has now been reclassified.