HEALTH officers from two councils are now investigating the cause of the smell reported across the county.

More than 150 people have contacted the Oxford Mail since Tuesday complaining about the pong in Oxford and areas stretching from Wallingford to Banbury.

One resident in Beckley, just north of Barton, suspected a pile of chicken manure in a field off Bayswater Road was causing the smell.

But, despite a strong smell in the area, a farmer denied having any knowledge of the stench.

Environmental health officers from Oxford City and South Oxfordshire District councils are now investigating the cause of the smell.

A town councillor from Brackley, Northamptonshire, called to suggest the source of the pong could be sludge injection, food waste used as fertiliser.

But the Environment Agency said it had not issued any permits for sludge injection in the past two weeks.

Spokesman Joe Giacomelli said: “We have still not had any complaints raised to us.

“If there is an odour and it is not related to a site we regulate, it is not in our remit to investigate.”

On Wednesday, Headington ward city councillor Ruth Wilkinson said she had received calls from a number of people about the odour, which could still be detected in Wheatley, near her place of work.

  • Have you smelt the pong? Do you know the cause? Call the Oxford Mail’s pong-line on 01865 425431 if you have the solution.

 

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