Frustrated residents say a "vomit inducing" stench has once again returned to Newton Aycliffe, with some claiming they have been forced to close windows and stay indoors to escape the smell.
People across parts of the town have reported a strong and "disgusting" odour over the last couple of evenings, reigniting concerns about a long running smell issue that previously plagued Newton Aycliffe, Aycliffe Village and surrounding areas.
Several residents took to social media to complain about the stench, which many compared to sulphur, sewage and rotten eggs.
However, the cause of the odour remains unknown.
One resident said: "At 8pm it engulfed the house. Worst smell I've smelt. Mix of sulphur, eggs and sewage. Making me vomit.
"I tried calling the Environment Agency but they wanted the name of the actual business it was coming from and I didn't know.
"It's been mildly in the atmosphere the last few nights. But tonight is next level. I'm actually concerned about what we are breathing in."
Another resident, from Beechfield, said: "It started at 2pm not so strong. Between 7.30pm and 8pm the whole house was full. It knocked me white.
"Worst smell I've ever smelt. It was a mixture of sulphur, eggs, sewerage and sewage. I've tried to report it, but it keeps saying I need to report locally as I can't give details of where it's coming from.
"Disgusting the fact we are having to breathe it in. I've had to close the windows it's that bad."
A third resident described the smell "like sewers".
They said: "Smells like the sewers. Absolutely disgusting. We shouldn't have to live like this."
The latest complaints come three years after residents first began reporting a strong sulphur or gas like smell across parts of the area in September 2023.
The smell was later linked to landfill gas at the Aycliffe Quarry Landfill site, prompting an Environment Agency investigation and a series of engineering works designed to reduce emissions.
Those works, which included the installation of additional gas extraction wells and landfill capping, were completed in November 2024.
At the time, the Environment Agency (EA) said it had seen a marked reduction in complaints after the work was carried out.
Last year, the watchdog said the last complaint it had received relating to odours around the Aycliffe Village, Newton Aycliffe and Brafferton areas was on February 6, 2025.
However, residents are now reporting that a similar smell has since returned.
MP for Newton Aycliffe Alan Strickland said he will "push for answers" to get to the bottom of the foul whiff.
He said: “As our MP and an Aycliffe resident myself, I’m aware of the ongoing issue about industrial odours in Newton Aycliffe and have met with the Environment Agency on a number of occasions to push for action.
"Excellent progress has been made significantly reducing odour from the landfill site, but there is clearly another source of odour which has flared up again recently.
"I’ll push again for answers on what is causing the odour and what more can be done to address resident concerns.”
Great Aycliffe town councillor Phillip Hawkins said the issue had once again been brought to the attention of local representatives.
Councillor Phillip Hawkins (Image: GREAT AYCLIFFE TOWN COUNCIL)
He said: "My only comment at this time is, yes the smell is back, the source is unknown and the EA and our MP are aware of the situation."
Councillor Hawkins previously said the council "don't have the power to magically make the smell go away".
He previously said: "I'm a councillor, I live in Aycliffe and I experience the smell the same as anyone else.
"Is the council aware of the problem absolutely, but the fact is GATC (Great Aycliffe Town Council) don't have the power to magically make the smell go away".
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An Environment Agency spokesperson confirmed action will be taken to find the source of the smell.
A spokesperson said: “Our officers are investigating several potential sources across Newton Aycliffe following increased reports of an odour in the area.
“There are a number of factors that could be causing this, and we will take action if we find any regulatory breaches have occurred.”