THE picture of town centre streets chocked with car fumes is a familiar one.

Government policy may be encouraging us to take public transport but there is little sign of motorists giving up their vehicles to help reduce pollution.

To highlight the problems caused by our dependence on cars, Wycombe District Council is organising a month of activity as part of the Don't Choke Britain campaign.

Don't Choke Britain is an action month, launched officially on June 12, which aims to get people thinking about the damage to the environment caused by cars and to use alternative forms of transport.

The campaign is asking people to use an alternative to the car to travel to and from work at least one day a week during the month of June, said Lesley Stoner, environmental co-ordinator at the council.

Those who live close enough to their workplace are urged to get out their cycles for Bike to Work Day on June 20.

For those who cannot leave their cars at home there is still the opportunity to play a part on National Car Share Day on June 16th, when people can arrange to share transport with friends and colleagues to save money and cut traffic.

However, according to Rebecca Rees, Thames Valley spokesperson for the AA, we can't just blame the car for higher pollution levels: "Cars are much cleaner than 10 years ago. Pollution caused by homes and industry is far greater."

John Laker, standing in the general election as a Green Party candidate for Wycombe, said that this does not change the fact that there are a lot more cars on the road than ten years ago.

He points out: "We are wasting more and more of our lives sitting in traffic jams, breathing in air that is more and more polluted, while global warming gets worse."

John Laker supports Don't Choke Britain, but believes that more significant levels of change are needed. "Change needs to come from the top. Many people have no alternative but to travel by car, and so will return to their cars after this action month is over."

Further local events planned by the council so far include a High Wycombe Society seminar on the subject of transport, the rural transport partnership launch at Bassetbury Manor on June 12, and an air quality workshop for the pupils of Lane End School on June 28.

Events: May 30: Balloon Launch in Aylesbury Vale 2pm to 4pm, as part of Breathe Easy Week, celebrating 10 years of Breathe Easy, a club supporting people with breathing problems.

June 12: Rural transport partnership launch at Bassetsbury Manor.

June 16: National Car Share Day.

June 20: Bike to Work Day, Millennium Bikers Breakfast at Wycombe District Council Offices.

June 9-17: Green Transport Week: Phone Patricia Mariotte at the Environmental Transport Agency on 01932 828882 for details.

June 16-24: Festival of Cycling: Phone 01243 543888 for details.