Hunt on to track down foul smell in Jarrow

For the last week a foul smell, described similar to that of ‘rotten eggs’ has lingered around the town.

Council health experts are looking into the problem but its cause remains unknown and fingers are being pointed to stagnant water in the River Don or Tyne, which has been warmed up in the recent heatwave.

Other theories are that may be coming from sewage treatment works in Howdon, North Tyneside or a nearby recycling plant.

South Tyneside Council’s environmental health team confirmed it has received a number of complaints about the stench and is now trying track down the source.

A South Tyneside Council spokeswoman said: “We have received several complaints about the odour in the Jarrow area.

“Our Environmental Health officers are currently working with the Environment Agency to try to identify the source and take action if appropriate.”

It’s thought the smell originally stared down by the riverside but it has now since spread across Jarrow.

Coun John McCabe, a councillor for Hebburn South, says he has noticed the pong while driving his taxi around the area.

He said: “To me it smells like hydrogen sulphate or methane, it’s like rotten eggs and not very nice at all.

“I’ve noticed it when I’ve been driving about, it;s particularly strong near the entrance to the Tyne Tunnel and in the carpark of Jarrow Morrisons.”

He added: “I think it’s a combination of things which have been exacerbated by all the warm weather.

“I reckon it’s coming from the somewhere down near the Don or the Tyne, the vegetation has rotted and is releasing this smell.

“It is proving to be quite a talking point though as it’s gone on for a few days now.

“The minute I roll down the taxi’s window I can smell it. Hopefully they will get to the source of it before it spreads to Hebburn.

Fellow councillor Wilf Flyn, thinks the scent is similar to rotting food.

The secretary of Jarrow Constituency Labour Party said: “When I was shopping in Jarrow town centre on Tuesday I noticed it.

“I think it smells like rotting food, it;s not very pleasent.

“It’s hard to say where it;s coming from, it’s just in the air.”