A POST Office has got a smelly problem which has prompted health fears and complaints that it's driving customers away.

Mohammed Khan, 28, the manager of the Accrington Road post office, Intack, Blackburn, has called in environmental health officers to deal with the odour, coming from a house next door.

Officials have now given the owner 10 days to carry out work to get rid of the smell, which is believed may be caused by either damp, sewage or a dead rat.

Mr Khan said: "I had people from environmental health come who at first said it was damp or sewage and then said it could be a rodent, so they checked the Post Office and gave it the all clear and said it was coming from next door."

Coun Salim Lorgat, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: "The principal environment-al health officer has visited the premises and served an enforcement notice on the occupier on June 15.

"The occupier has 10 days to comply. If not, the council will exercise its right to carry out the work and recharge their costs back to the occupier."

Mr Khan said he was losing trade because of the smell, and customer Sandra Yates, of Knuzden Brook, said: "I went in last week and said that something was dead. He has all these air fresheners with fans. It makes you want to retch when you go in."

The smell is particularly bad in the morning when Mr Khan opens the shop, especially with the hot and humid weather. He said the smell had been around for three weeks.

"It's been really dead and customers are walking out because they cannot deal with the smell. News travels fast in this area, I have had to bleach and wash the walls," he said.

He said he is asthmatic and has been using his inhaler more since the smelly problem began.

The next door neighbour was unable to comment.