This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21141351
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Foul smell complaints in Kent and Sussex after gas leak | Foul smell complaints in Kent and Sussex after gas leak |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A cloud of foul-smelling but harmless gas has leaked out of a factory in north-western France, drifting across the Channel and prompting complaints from Paris to south-eastern England. | A cloud of foul-smelling but harmless gas has leaked out of a factory in north-western France, drifting across the Channel and prompting complaints from Paris to south-eastern England. |
| The leak is blamed on a chemical factory in Rouen, and many residents compared the odour to diesel fumes. | The leak is blamed on a chemical factory in Rouen, and many residents compared the odour to diesel fumes. |
| Police in Kent and Sussex 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. |
| The gas is reported believed to be mercaptan, an additive to natural gas. | The gas is reported believed to be mercaptan, an additive to natural gas. |
| It leaked on Monday from a plant near Rouen, 75 miles (120km) north-west of Paris. Winds blew the cloud over northern France on Monday night and then into England on Tuesday. | It leaked on Monday from a plant near Rouen, 75 miles (120km) north-west of Paris. Winds blew the cloud over northern France on Monday night and then into England on Tuesday. |
| 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. | |
| Complaints also came from residents in Hampshire and Dorset. | |
| By the afternoon the aroma had spread further north, with reports from Oxfordshire, Northampton and the East Midlands. | |
| The National Grid, which would normally deal with up to 10,000 calls a day to its gas emergency phone line, had received more than 100,000 calls by 14:00 GMT. | |
| A spokesman said it was an "unprecedented" volume. | |
| Kent Fire and Rescue Service has advised residents to keep doors and windows closed if they had concerns, or were elderly or asthmatic. | 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. | 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. | 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 it. | 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' | 'Rotten eggs' |
| A spokesman for the Environment Agency said officers were responding to reports of an unpleasant odour. | 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. | 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." | "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." | 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 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." | "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. | It said the non-toxic chemical which had blown across the Channel would also have been diluted before entering the air over England. |