Tyneside council bosses are "dragging their feet" on efforts to cut dangerous air pollution levels, according to an influential charity.
ClientEarth has warned that Newcastle, Gateshead, and North Tyneside councils are "putting people's health at risk" through inaction on slashing emissions on the region's roads.
The environmental law organisation is a driving force behind plans to impose a toll on drivers in the North East, defeating the government in three court cases over illegal levels of air pollution across the country which prompted ministers' order for local councils to launch an urgent crackdown.
A massive consultation on the controversial plans, which could see drivers charged for crossing the Tyne Bridge, closed last month with a record-breaking 19,000 public responses.
But a decision on where and how such a toll will be imposed will not be made until the autumn - long after the original December 2018 deadline that the government set for the three councils to come up with a plan.
However, the councils maintain that polluting-cutting measures will be up and running by the target date of January 1, 2021.
ClientEarth clean air lawyer Katie Nield said: "Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside are now five months late putting plans on the table for urgent action to tackle illegal air pollution.
"They are breaching government-imposed legal deadlines and, once again, people's health is being pushed down the agenda.
"From what we've seen so far, the councils are considering a clean air zone, one which could put Newcastle ahead of the pack. But this is an urgent problem and councils should not be putting people's health at risk by delaying decision-making.
"We are already over eight years past the legal deadline to clean up the air.
"Let's not forget that this is ultimately central government's responsibility and ministers should be stepping in to ensure actions are taken where councils are dragging their feet - as we've seen in Coventry.
"For now, it remains to be seen whether local and national leaders will continue to play politics with people's health or work together to tackle toxic air."
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs also warned earlier this year that the local authorities could face legal action if they did not produce a final plan by July 12, but confirmed in May that the date was "currently under review".
One of two competing toll options is expected to be imposed: either a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in which only the highest-polluting vehicles would be charged a daily fee of £12.50; or a £1.70 toll on the three central bridges across the Tyne that would affect most drivers, plus a ban on high-polluting buses, taxis, and lorries from Newcastle city centre.
A spokesperson for the three local authorities said: "The health of people in our area is a key priority for us and we are fully committed to tackling harmful levels of pollution as quickly as possible.
"Our work to develop air quality proposals is continuing in line with the government's legal directive and we remain on target to meet the timescale for implementing measures by 2021.
"Any measures we introduce are likely to have a significant impact on people, not just in terms of their health, and it is vital that we take the time to ensure we reach the right decision.
"We recently completed a major consultation exercise, which attracted more than 19,000 responses - a record number - and it is important that we take these responses into account as part of the decision-making process.
"An independent analysis of the consultation feedback is now underway and this is due to be completed by late July. We expect to confirm final proposals during the autumn.
"We are in regular contact with government and they are kept up to date on our progress."
