A STRANGE smell wafting over Farnworth has had residents reaching for their hankies and kept Bolton Council workers baffled.

For the last two months, Bolton Council's environmental health department has had a dozen phone calls from residents about a "terrible" smell in the Lorne Street, Campbell Street and Bradford Road areas.

Some describe it as a chemical or disinfectant smell while others liken it to a farming type odour.

But attempts to pin down the nasty niff have so far eluded the authorities as it comes and goes quite quickly.

"The problem is it is a transient smell," said Mr John Clegg, head of Bolton's environmental health department.

Investigations into the sewers in Campbell Street and Bradford Road have not pinpointed the problem but debris and silt have been found in the sewer in Lorne Street which Bolton drainage department plans to remove once they get the go ahead from the owners, North West Water.

However, Mr Bill Lomax, Bolton's head of drainage and technical management, believes the Lorne Street sewer is probably not the source of the smell and environmental health officials are standing by to try and pinpoint the odour next time it occurs.

"The trouble is it disperses quickly. It could be anything causing it. Even a small amount of volatile liquid can go a long way," said Mr Lomax.

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