'Vomit inducing' smell back to plague town

A "foul smell" which is causing people to be sick and others to consider moving home has returned to a town two years after a previous outbreak.

People living around Newton Aycliffe in County Durham said the smell is becoming "more frequent" with some taking trips away just to escape the odour.

In 2024 the Environment Agency (EA), which is investigating the latest issue, identified Aycliffe Quarry as the source of foul smells but it does not believe the new stench is a recurrence of the previous pong.

The local Labour MP Alan Strickland said the problem appears to be coming from in or near Aycliffe Business Park where one worker described the smell as "ridiculous".

James Raymer, who has lived in the town for three years, said: "It's getting more frequent and it has made me feel ill multiple times, to the extent of vomiting.

"It gets that bad I've suggested to my partner it might be a good idea to move out of the town."

He has started keeping his windows shut and noticed the smell often seems to build up for half an hour before becoming very intense in the evenings.

Fellow resident Rob Chambers said the intensity depends on where you live in the town.

He said: "I have on multiple occasions had to shut my doors and windows.

"In the summer, especially this year, it is not good or comfortable and we had to go out of the house to another town."

He works on the business park and said: "It is ridiculous working there and trying to go outside for your break at times."

Strickland said he was aware of the recent outbreak which he said seemed to be coming from "other premises on the business park".

He said: "I'm meeting the EA to ask what action they are taking and will be launching a public survey to help pinpoint the problem."

A spokesperson for Great Aycliffe Town Council said: "The smell is an ongoing and significant problem and the council encourages anyone affected to report it to the EA's hotline so that it may be logged and investigated."

The EA said: "No community should have to live with foul smells and our officers are investigating this situation, including carrying out frequent checks to pinpoint the source."

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