Councils say they lack funds to enforce stricter limits on wood burners

The government says people with polluting wood burners should be ‘encouraged’ to reduce their emissions. Photograph: Phil Holden/Alamy

Local authorities lack the resources for the crackdown on highly polluting wood burners promised by the environment secretary, Thérèse Coffey, they say.

Wood-burning in urban areas is an increasing source of harmful air pollution, as people install stoves for aesthetic reasons or to save money on gas.