A PET food manufacturer has been landed with a £11,135 legal bill after a long history of complaints about smells from its factory.

Blackburn-based Dugdale Davies was fined £10,000 after the council decided to take legal action.

The company based in Davies Road, Blackburn, has been the subject of numerous complaints over recent years.

Residents have claimed smells coming from the works are "highly offensive" and affect a large part of the northern side of town.

Neighbouring businesses and commuters passing through Whitebirk have also complained.

Environmental Health officials from Blackburn with Darwen Council have been keeping an eye on the problem for the last 18 months. They have visited the plant 16 times and written 10 letters to the firm but all their efforts failed.

The company has never replied in writing to any of the town hall's letters.

The law means the firm has to put together an action plan but the council is still waiting to hear from Dugdale Davies.

A general amnesty has been called in a bid to get companies in Blackburn and Darwen to follow the rules set down in the Environmental Protection Act.

But Dugdale Davies is not covered by the amnesty as they have failed to follow the regulations.

Council solicitors moved in after the company failed to comply with a legally binding enforcement notice.

The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,135 in costs at Blackburn Magistrates. The company was not in court.

The council has also promised to continue checking on the situation.

The situation will be discussed at a public protection sub-committee on Wednesday, November 12.

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