AIR pollution is breaching EU limits across Waltham Forest, an independent investigation has found.

Community groups have recorded levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air and found the borough to be almost doubling EU recommendations.

A University College London (UCL) project found the highest level of NO2 out of nine areas tested was in Marylebone in central London.

Diesel vehicles are a key source of NO2, which is linked to a range of respiratory illnesses.

The results are part of the social enterprise Mapping for Change's Air Quality Monitoring project.

In July, monitors were set up around Waltham Forest in an attempt to discover the extent of pollution in the borough.

Funding was from UCL by both Walthamstow resident Charlotte Schilcher and the head of physics at George Monoux College, Ernestas Jegorovas.

The duo set up tiny monitors at various locations including Wood Street, Forest Road, Hoe Street and Bakers Arms.

Results showed pollution levels are nearly double the EU limit in Walthamstow.

Louise Francis, from UCL and co-founder of Mapping for Change, said the results were a snapshot of the level of pollution in the capital but the actual levels of NO2 could be higher as holiday levels were often lower than other times of the year.

She said that the public could make changes to reduce their intake of NO2 by walking down side roads instead of major routes.

Nitrogen Dioxide levels in Waltham Forest in 2013 were at 68, while Redbridge was at 45, Barking and Dagenham at 35, Newham at 40 and Hackney at 64.

The legal limit is either an annual level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air or no higher than 50 micrograms per cubic metre 35 times a year.

The borough is at its highest levels since monitoring began in 1998.