THE number of people diagnosed with asthma has almost doubled in the past year.

A total of 970 patients have been diagnosed with the respiratory condition in the past two years.

From August 2004 to July last year, there were 327 new cases discovered, but from August last year to July this year, 643 people were diagnosed, according to figures from Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford.

The hospital in Darenth Wood Road has a respiratory clinic which deals with conditions including asthma.

News Shopper got the figures after putting in a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The hospital claims the reason for the rise in figures is it has improved the processes in recording the diagnosis.

A spokesman for Asthma UK, a charity which offers support for sufferers, said: "This coincides with the way GPs have to report the numbers of people diagnosed to the NHS.

"Another way to record data was introduced a year ago, so this is likely to be the reason."

Asthma affects 5.2 million people in the UK, and caused 1,381 deaths across the country in 2004.

It can be triggered by many things including air pollutants, dust, pollen, smoking and animals which irritate sufferers' airways, and cause the symptoms of asthma. Different asthma patients can have several triggers.

The figures come after a recent finding by Sevenoaks Council certain areas, including Swanley High Street, are not meeting Government set air quality targets, and it is set to implement an action plan to deal with the pollution, which is due to traffic.

A spokesman for the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: "Air quality in urban areas of Kent has suffered greatly from road traffic over the decades.

"Dartford is known as having the worst air quality in Kent, specifically at the A2.

"The car is king in Dartford, and affects air quality. We are profoundly worried about the unrestrained growth in road traffic."