Millions of people with health problems and the elderly were yesterday being warned not to overdo it as the UK continues to experience high levels of pollution.

Those with lung and heart conditions should avoid strenuous activity outdoors while people suffering symptoms of pollution – including sore eyes, coughs and sore throats – should cut down the amount they do outside, health experts said.

Asthmatics might need to use their blue reliever inhalers more often as they could be prone to attacks today and over the next few days. Around two-thirds of the 3.6 million people with asthma find that air pollution makes their asthma worse.

The advice, from Public Health England (PHE), Asthma UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), comes after a warning that parts of England are experiencing the highest level of air pollution recorded by Defra.

Defra ranks air pollution from one to 10, with one being the lowest and 10 the highest. Across most of England, moderate to high air pollution levels have been forecast, with level 10 – “very high” – forecast in parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands.

High levels of pollution are expected today for East Anglia, the Midlands, Lincolnshire, eastern parts of Wales, through the Wirral and the north coast of Wales.

Most people will not be affected by short-term peaks in air pollution

High levels will move north over much of coastal northwest England, to southwest Scotland and the northeast of Northern Ireland. The elevated pollution levels have been caused by a combination of light southeasterly winds, the continental air flow and dust which has blown up from the Sahara desert.

Sotiris Vardoulakis, head of air pollution at PHE’s centre for radiation, chemical and environmental hazards, said most people will not be affected by short-term peaks in air pollution. However, he added that some groups may still experience increased symptoms.