Beware the Sussex stink! Families living on the south coast plagued by 'rich and potent' stench coming in from the sea

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Pungent cheeses are one thing. And we've learned to put up with a whiff of garlic or onions here and there.
But now the French have truly outdone themselves on the nose-wrinkling stakes after a cloud of foul-smelling gas wafted over the Channel.
The stinky air - dubbed 'Le Pong' - has left exasperated Britons on the south coast retching in disgust.
Emergency services in Sussex were swamped with calls from worried locals fearing some sort of environmental disaster. Things were so bad, it even saw the coastguard being scrambled on Tuesday evening.
However, besieged residents have been told the stench is not due to some catastrophe - but done to the French.
The 'rich and potent' gas cloud, said to smell of sweat and rotten eggs, drifted over from a factory in the northern French city of Rouen.
The smell is so bad, locals have reported breathing problems and streaming eyes.
It's not the first time the south coast has been plagued by 'Le Pong' - a similar incident happened in 2013, sparking outrage.
As locals demand answers, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they believe the smell is coming from the sea.
Councillor Paul Wells of Bognor Regis Town Council said: 'Can't seem to get anything out of anybody about what it might be but it seems to be spreading across the south coast.
'It's a very rich, potent gas small. It's making people feel faint.
'Shops have been contacting us looking for advice and the gas board is overloaded with calls.
'There have been reports in Chichester, Bognor and Littlehampton and more from social media.
'People want some answers.'
A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We have had a number of calls from people along the south coast concerned they can smell gas.
'It is believed that this might be coming from offshore, rather than a local domestic gas leak.
'We would always encourage anyone who thinks they smell gas to contact their utilities provider.
'If you begin to feel unwell, always dial 999 for emergency medical care.'
Last month, Bognor Regis was crowned the sunniest place in Britain by the Met Office, after receiving more than 1,900 hours of sunshine a year.
Its long beach, as well as Butlins resort, are a major draw for the town.
However, the stench now blighting the area could prompt tourists to turn their noses up at visiting the seaside resort.
Some residents said the whiff smelled of sweat and rotten eggs, while others compared it to stale cabbage, garlic or diesel fumes.
A spokesman for gas company SGN, said: 'We've received several calls this afternoon regarding a smell in the air in the Bognor Regis area.
'Our engineers are responding to individual reports, but there's nothing so far to suggest the smell is coming from our network.'
The coastguard confirmed it was called at 5.20pm on Tuesday after reports of a 'gas and diesel' smell at Selsey Bill.
'Investigations found no evidence of anything untoward,' a spokesperson said.
MailOnline has contacted Lubrizol - which runs the factory in Rouen - to see if there has been another leak at its facility.