HUNDREDS of London schools have toxic levels of air pollution with those in deprived areas worst affected, new figures showed yesterday.

Newly elected Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan said the 400 schools affected across the capital show an “ongoing crisis” across the city.

Mr Khan recently called for an urgent update of the figures claiming that his predecessor Boris Johnson had failed to inform Londoners how deprived schools were disproportionately affected by toxic air.

The newly published analysis shows that on top of the hundreds of primary schools exceeding nitrogen dioxide levels, there is now data revealing pollution levels at around 86 secondary schools were also above legal levels.

Southwark, Westminster and Tower Hamlets were the three boroughs with the highest number of primary and secondary schools in high-pollution areas.

Nearly 10,000 Londoners die each year because of long-term exposure to air pollution, King’s College London researchers estimated last year.

Mr Khan said: “It is simply not acceptable that young Londoners — our children, grandchildren, family, neighbours and friends — are being exposed to dangerously polluted air and putting them at greater risk of respiratory and other conditions.

“This is yet more evidence that the last mayor failed Londoners when it comes to improving air quality in the capital.

“I have been clear that I will not stand by and continue to let that happen and that is why I am more determined than ever to get to grips with tackling the capital’s toxic air pollution and delivering on a promise of cleaner air for all Londoners.”