THE ozone layer is continuing to decline in certain areas of the world, scientists have found.

Studies have shown clear signs of recovery around the Antarctic since efforts in the 1980s to curb the use of ­damaging chemicals.

1 Hopes of the ozone healing have been dashed and Imperial College London researchers believe the continued decline may be down to climate change Credit: Handout - Getty

But boffins discovered ozone, a substance that absorbs UV radiation from the sun, is not healing at lower latitudes between 60N and 60S. London is at 51N.

The researchers from Imperial College London believe the continued decline may be down to climate change causing more ozone to be carried away from the tropics.

Study co-author Professor Joanna Haigh, Co-Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, said: "Ozone has been seriously declining globally since the 1980s.

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"But while the banning of CFCs is leading to a recovery at the poles, the same does not appear to be true for the lower latitudes.

"The potential for harm in lower latitudes may actually be worse than at the poles."

The cause is not certain but the researchers believe it is possible climate change is altering the pattern of atmospheric circulation - causing more ozone to be carried away from the tropics.