The mother of a child killed by air pollution is fighting an “uphill battle” to rid the nation of the “invisible killer” that is filthy air.

Rosamund Kissi-Debrah's daughter Ella, nine, suffered a fatal asthma attack in February 2013 after being exposed to excessive air pollution.

In a landmark coroner’s case in 2020, she became the first person to have air pollution, which Rosamund describes as an “invisible killer” listed as a cause of death at an inquest in the UK.

Rosamund said: “I won’t do my daughter justice unless I say to you that children continue to die.

“I’m glad that water has caught the public’s imagination, and it might be because they can see dirty water, and I have an uphill battle because no one can see dirty air.”

Ella’s estate, over which her mother Rosamund acts as administrator, is suing three Government departments for compensation over her “illness and premature death”.

Rosamund said her High Court challenge against ministers, which will head to trial, will be about “holding their feet to the fire” and establishing a “legal right to clean air”.

She added: “I do not like being in court. I don't think most people do. For me, it’s always sad when I’m in court because everyone knows that I’m in court for one reason and that is my late daughter.”

Rosamund wants to see more action taken over indoor air pollution, as well as more direction from the current Government.

Ella lived 25 metres from the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London – one of the capital’s busiest roads.

She died after having endured numerous seizures and made almost 30 hospital visits over the previous three years.

A source close to Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the Government is “committed” to clean air and is assessing options to improve air quality.

The Government has introduced a range of wider measures which will clean the nation’s air, including decarbonisation of the grid.