RESIDENTS living on a new Trowbridge estate are being asked to report any dead animals they find to contamination experts.

Householders in Paxcroft Mead fear they are being slowly polluted by toxic chemicals, and have blamed weedkillers being sprayed by landscape contractors.

The residents became concerned after pets fell seriously ill and one dog died.

Now experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are testing samples to try to find out what could be contaminating the area.

MAFF's wildlife management advisor David Trump said: "We have been sent samples by a local vet from a cat and a dog and we are testing them for a wide range of chemicals.

"We are dealing with an unknown substance, it could take two weeks or two months to isolate it.

"We would be interested in any dead animals or reports of animals falling ill, because it can help us. If we get reports we can go out and pick up the corpses for testing."

He said it could well be that the effect on local animals and wildlife was just an unforeseen side effect of perfectly legal spraying.

Landscape contractor Elcot Ltd has been ordered by developer Gallagher Estates to stop spraying while the investigations continue.

A Gallagher spokesman said the company was taking the issue very seriously and was working with the residents and MAFF to try to get to the bottom of the mystery illnesses.

l Anyone with a sick animal or finding dead wildlife or animals should contact MAFF's freephone number, 0800 321 600.