Strange Smell Solved by Southern Water

A London Road resident contacted the Observer to say that the stream behind London Road and Bancroft Road that runs from Sidley to the park had turned black, possibly with effluent, and seemed to be the source of the unpleasant smell.

The "frustrated taxpayer" said: "Last week the stream was a clear blue - so presumably some form of pollution has entered it from some point north of London Road."

The odiferous problem appeared to be centred on a tank just beside the play area.

A Southern Water spokesman said: "We received a call alerting us to a smell and visited the scene shortly after to find the smell had been caused by a discharge from a stormwater tank.

"The tank, which acts as a sewer overflow in times of heavy rain, had become full. We rectified the problem that day. We take pollution issues very seriously and are now investigating the cause of this incident."