Scotland's most polluted streets have been named in a new report by Friends of the Earth (FoE).

The environmental group said the number of pollution zones in Scotland - used to designate areas where air quality goals are not likely to be met - rose to 38 in 2016, up from 33 the year before.

The most nitrogen-dioxide polluted streets are Hope Street in Glasgow, St John's Road in Edinburgh, Wellington Road in Aberdeen, and the Seagate in Dundee, according to FoE Scotland.

The worst streets for harmful particles are Atholl Street in Perth, Queensferry Road and Salamander Street in Edinburgh, and King Street in Aberdeen, it said.

FoE Scotland claims air pollution caused by traffic causes 2500 early deaths in Scotland each year and causes heart attacks, strokes and asthma.

FoE Scotland air pollution campaigner Emilia Hanna said: "Air pollution from traffic is a public health crisis, claiming thousands of lives each year and particularly harmful for small children, pregnant women and people living in poverty.

"For people living in an official pollution zone or near traffic-choked streets, breathing in toxic air is an inescapable fact of life. It should not be this way, we have the right to breathe clean air just as we have the right to drink clean water.

"The Scottish Government and local authorities are not tackling this public health crisis with the seriousness and urgency required. We now have a staggering 38 official pollution zones across Scotland, up from 33 last year.

"This means that many more people are living with illegal levels of air pollution than previously recognised."

Air quality legislation introduced in Scotland in 2002 required harmful particles to fall below one millionth of a gram per cubic metre of air by 2010.

However, this target has not been met.

"The Scottish Government has promised a 'plan' for low emission zones by 2018 but needs to make a public commitment that it will provide significant funding so that local councils can get on with making serious plans to clean up the air in their area," Ms Hanna continued.

"Councils will be reluctant to introduce a low emission zone unless they know there will be funding to help set them up."

FoE Scotland has also called on the Scottish Government to cut the amount of traffic on the roads by providing greater support to public transport and introducing more cycle paths.