Daily roundup 5 April: Air pollution, duvet days and Shakespeare

Hundreds of thousands of children are being exposed to illegal levels of damaging air pollution from diesel vehicles at schools and nurseries across England and Wales. A joint investigation by The Guardian and Greenpeace's investigations unit found that dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution from diesel traffic threaten the health of children and young people in towns and cities from Newcastle to Plymouth.


A primary school in Lincolnshire will be offering duvet days as part of an incentive to recruit more teachers. The Lincolnshire Echo reports that Long Sutton Primary School in Spalding has set aside more than £3,000 of the annual budget to pay for the perk. Critics argue that it sends out the wrong message about teaching but head teacher Bill Lord said every year they struggle with recruitment.


Almost half of teenagers attending annual free Shakespeare performances for schools have never been inside a theatre before, research has found. The BBC reports that more than 150,000 teenagers have been brought to Shakespeare's Globe in London over the past decade, but for many it is their first sight of a live play.


Thousands of families hit by the benefit cap have been left with just 50p a week towards their rent, a BBC investigation has found. The BBC reports that a Panorama survey of hundreds of local councils across Britain discovered that 7,585 families had seen their weekly housing benefit cut to this level. Charities say some families affected could end up losing their homes.


A children's charity is among a number to have been fined by the UK's data watchdog for misusing information about millions of past donors to seek further funds. The BBC reports that those fined include the NSPCC, Oxfam, Cancer Research UK, The Royal British Legion and Battersea Dogs' and Cats' Home.