WASTE tipping on a former chemical site is causing smells and clouds of flies according to worried residents.

An investigation has now been launched after residents claimed queues of lorries and diggers have begun burying waste at the former NIPA Laboratories site at Nook Lane in Oswaldtwistle.

Lancashire County Council said there was no planning permission in place to tip waste at the site.

And the Environment Agency said that it was investigating reports of activity over the last few weeks.

It is not currently clear who owns the site or who is using it.

A resident who lives off Nook Lane, who asked not to be named, said it was an ongoing nuisance.

He said: “The smell is disgusting and they are digging up there night and day. They are digging huge holes to bury the waste.

“It doesn’t seem right that they should be carrying on like that.”

A Thwaites Street resident said the waste was being both buried and burned in bonfires.

She said: “It’s causing masses of flies, they are all over my house, and we just can’t get rid of them.

“If you make a brew you can’t even put a tea spoon down without it attracting flies. Some neighbours have seen rats too.

“The smell is awful and we just don’t know what is going on up there.

“It’s worrying because the site is still full of chemicals and goodness knows what is going into our streams and watercourses.

“It’s really intimidating because no one seems to know who these people are.”

Coun Peter Britcliffe, who lives in New Lane, said he had alerted Lancashire County Council and the Environment Agency after being contacted by residents.

He said: “There needs to be careful investigation of what is happening up there. Residents are telling me the smell is a real issue and I have myself noticed large amounts of flies which seem to be unkillable.”

The Environment Agency and Lancashire County Council both said that they were currently investigating the complaints.