Bad smells emanating from a chicken factory are lowering the quality of life in a Norfolk town, it has been claimed.

The odour coming from Banham Poultry in Station Road, Attleborough, was raised at a town council meeting on Monday after the council received a letter of complaint, written by a resident, and the email response from Banham's environmental facilities officer, Richard Rowles.

At the meeting, Beryl Thwaithes, who lives in the town, said: 'I have lived in Attleborough for 17 years and it was dreadful when I first arrived. Now Attleborough has got a reputation for being smelly.'

The chicken factory is currently at the southern edge of the town, however after the planned construction of 4,000 homes by 2026 it will be in the centre. Mrs Thwaites said: 'I know it's an asset in one way because it brings money into the town. But it really is time Attleborough encouraged them to move out.

'I know they are trying, but it's just in the wrong place.'

Tristan Ashby, a Breckland councillor for Attleborough, said at the meeting: 'I think we all need to pull together and do what we can because it's definitely got worse.'

READ MORE: Bid for 4,000 new homes to double size of Attleborough takes step forward as planning application lodgedJeremy Burton, town mayor, said the council was in regular contact with the company and deputy mayor Vera Dale was on a liaison committee.

But he said: 'As a town council I don't think there's much we can do.'

The email from Mr Rowles, of July 4, pointed out the steps the firm had taken to reduce the smell, including changing the main chimney earlier this year at a cost of £70,000 and replacing cladding on the site's effluent treatment plant at a cost of £13,000.

The email said the factory could go for six to eight months over the cooler months without any complaints.

A spokesman from the firm said further improvements to reduce odours - including new technology and new buildings - were on the way.

The town council has said the site was under the control of an Environment Agency permit for issues such as smell, noise and effluent discharges and complaints should be directed to them by email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or phone 03708 506 506.