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Foul smell complaints in Kent and Sussex after gas leak Foul smell complaints in Kent and Sussex after gas leak
(about 3 hours later)
Residents across Kent and Sussex are complaining of a foul smell after a massive gas leak in France. Residents across the South East are complaining of a foul smell after a massive gas leak in France.
Police in both counties said they had received a large number of calls from people worried about the odour. Police in Kent and Sussex said they had received a large number of calls from people worried about the odour.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said the leak was believed to be mercaptan gas - a harmless additive to natural gas.A spokesman for Sussex Police said the leak was believed to be mercaptan gas - a harmless additive to natural gas.
The leak is being blamed on a factory in Rouen, 60 miles west of Paris, and many residents compared the odour to strong diesel fumes.The leak is being blamed on a factory in Rouen, 60 miles west of Paris, and many residents compared the odour to strong diesel fumes.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service has advised residents to keep doors and windows closed to minimise the smell inside homes. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and police said reports had started coming in from Surrey and London Fire Brigade had received 25 calls by Tuesday afternoon.
Mercaptan is an organic compound containing sulphur, known for its strong, unpleasant odour Kent Fire and Rescue Service has advised residents to keep doors and windows closed if they had concerns, or were elderly or asthmatic.
But area commander Martin Adams said there were no serious concerns and he urged people not to call the fire service.
Mercaptan is an organic compound containing sulphur, known for its strong, unpleasant odour.
'Unpleasant aroma''Unpleasant aroma'
One resident in Cheriton, east Kent, said there had been reports of a strong smell in Ashford, Lydd and Hythe.One resident in Cheriton, east Kent, said there had been reports of a strong smell in Ashford, Lydd and Hythe.
Tania Bartlett told the BBC that people "all over Facebook" were talking about the smell. Tania Bartlett told the BBC that people "all over Facebook" were talking about it.
And Canterbury resident Andrew Roberts said: "Just stuck my head out of the back door here in south Canterbury - strong smell of fuel oil in the air."And Canterbury resident Andrew Roberts said: "Just stuck my head out of the back door here in south Canterbury - strong smell of fuel oil in the air."
Sussex Police said it had been receiving reports of a gas smell along the East Sussex coast.Sussex Police said it had been receiving reports of a gas smell along the East Sussex coast.
The force said Kent Police had also received a larger number of calls.The force said Kent Police had also received a larger number of calls.
In a statement, a Sussex Police spokesman said: "We understand that this smell emanates from an accidental factory discharge in Rouen.In a statement, a Sussex Police spokesman said: "We understand that this smell emanates from an accidental factory discharge in Rouen.
"The smell is from an additive to the gas which has an unpleasant aroma but is not toxic and there is no danger to the public.""The smell is from an additive to the gas which has an unpleasant aroma but is not toxic and there is no danger to the public."
'Rotten eggs'
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said officers were responding to reports of an unpleasant odour.
He said: "We understand that a factory in Rouen has reported a leak of a harmless chemical which is added to natural gas to make it detectable.
"We expect that this is causing the smell but we are working with partners locally to rule out other potential sources."
He added: "The odour is detectable at very low concentrations and should dissipate naturally over time."
The HPA said in a statement: "The smell drifting over Southern England today poses no risk to public health.
"The odour, which is similar to rotten eggs, has been noticed by people mainly in Kent, East and West Sussex and some parts of Surrey."
It said the non-toxic chemical which had blown across the Channel would also have been diluted before entering the air over England.