A POTENT pong which has lingered over the Earcroft area of Darwen for months has been flushed out.

North West Water has come up with a new way of treating sewage at its Earcroft works, after residents of nearby Anchor Estate complained of an incessant odour.

The area even earned the title of "the smelliest ward in Darwen" during the sewage-spreading time of year.

But after ward councillor Simon Danczuk got on the scent, the water company agreed to change its sewage treatment techniques to put a stop to the smell.

After discussions with Blackburn with Darwen's environmental health team, North West Water now forbids sewage spreading near residential areas. Councillor Danczuk said: "Last year local residents were complaining about the odour from spreading sewage on fields close to the nearby Anchor Estate.

"The environmental health team quickly contacted North West Water and have now come up with an agreement which forbids certain types of sewage spreading in built-up areas across the borough." He added: "Earcroft residents were suffering from the awful smell and because they bothered to raise the issue, they have now been successful in getting a good result.

"I now take back everything I said about Earcroft being a smelly ward!"

A council environmental health team spokesman said: "Care should be taken where spreading close to buildings such as schools, hospitals and private dwellings.

"In most cases the application of treated sludge within the designated area will be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the law.

"However, the council will investigate any incident where complaints arise to ensure that the odour treatment is effective enough to prevent a statutory odour nuisance."

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