A WESTBURY company could face prosecution after illegally releasing poisonous solvents into the atmosphere.

Solvent recovery firm, Absolute Solvents Ltd, previously called Western Solvents, has been ordered to shut the distribution and evaporation process at its Brook Lane Plant.

The company was served with a prohibition notice on March 14 after a spot check by the Environment Agency revealed that a pollution filter was not working.

Agency spokesman Mike Dunning said: "These solvents can affect breathing especially in people with asthma or anyone with breathing difficulties.

"They can also contribute to the formation of low level ozone.

"They shouldn't cause a health hazard to the public, or even workers, as they are only dangerous in close proximity and depending on the amount breathed in, but the point is that they are nasty substances and adequate filter systems should be in place."

Officers who visited the plant detected a solvent smell around the firm's premises which would not be present if the correct filter systems were in place.

A prohibition notice is only used in serious circumstances only about twice a year in the North Wessex region.

Site inspector Colin Babb said: "It is very disappointing to discover that Absolute Solvents had been operating its plant without the necessary pollution control equipment.

"We served the prohibition notice straight away to stop this serious pollution and the company now has to convince us that it is able to redesign its plant and operate it safely before we will allow it to start up again."

Absolute Solvents will now have to redesign the process, implement all necessary improvements and carry out a commissioning trial.

The Environment Agency will monitor the trial and must be satisfied the plant meets all legal requirements before it is allowed to restart.

Mr Babb said: "We are investigating the matter thoroughly and will consider all the factors before making a decision on further enforcement action.

"We are certainly not ruling out a prosecution."

Absolute Solvents Ltd declined to make any comment.