South west Hertfordshire’s air pollution levels are now "high" following dusty showers that have swept across the country from the Sahara Desert.

Residents awoke earlier this week to find their vehicles covered in dust, which was swept up by storm winds in the desert around 2,000 miles away in northwest Africa.

Saharan dust is also contributing to the air quality and pollution levels in the county.

This has tainted the air quality in the area and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has classified south west Hertfordshire’s air pollution levels as being "high".

In a chart showing the daily air quality index, it was revealed that these levels are expected to subside slightly tomorrow and return to a "low" level by Friday.