RESIDENTS in Colerne could soon be breathing easier after Wessex Water pledged to solve a long-standing sewage smell in the village.

For many years Quarry Lane and Watergates have been plagued by nasty niffs, which are particularly prominent during hot and dry weather. The likely source was thought to be the nearby sewage treatment works.

The parish council had written to the water company about the problem on a number of occasions, but had not been satisfied with the responses received.

parish clerk Pat Phillips phoned Wessex Water chairman Colin Skellett and demanded that someone from the company attend the next council meeting.

A representative did just that and now the company is now hopeful that it is on top of the situation.

Wessex Water spokesman Ian Martin said the smell had been coming from sewers and road gulleys in the village. A particular concern is that five highway drains do not have traps on.

He said: "We are doing a number of things to solve the problem. We have started dosing the village's two pumping stations with chemicals to reduce the smell.

"We have also sealed up man hole covers to prevent the smell coming up.

"In the long term we are going to carry out a drainage survey to see if there are any more problems that need to be rectified."