Fed-up residents have been forced to keep their windows shut to block out a “rancid egg smell” which has plagued the city for weeks.

The “disgusting” stench from a sprawling landfill site off Shalloak Road has sparked a number of complaints from locals who claim it is “stinking out the whole of Canterbury”.

People across the northern side of the city, stretching from Sturry to the Hales Place estate, say they can’t even have their windows open because the odour is “intolerable”.

Concerns have been raised about the putrid pong from Shelford Landfill, but Viridor - the firm in charge of the site - says there is “no harm to human health or the environment”.

It says additional measures to monitor and control emissions have been introduced, but residents have continued to complain of the foul stench.

Ivor Herdson, of Broad Oak Lodge, told KentOnline: “We do get the most hideous smell, and down the bottom of the hill, by Marks and Spencer and the rest of the shops, it can be awful.

“If we come to sell the house – which we do want to do in the next two or three years – then I’d have to choose my day very carefully for viewing.”

Mr Herdson was even told by friends “oh, you’re moving to stinky Sturry” when he bought his Broad Oak home seven years ago.

While the retired printer thinks the stench resembles that of “used bin bags”, his son believes it smells like “rotting olives” - to the extent it has put him off eating the Mediterranean fruit.

“We’re just across from the Southern Water sewage treatment works on Sturry Road – and that, depending on the wind, often gets up the hill as well. It’s awful,” Mr Herdson, 69, added.

“I will be cock-a-hoop if it suddenly all stopped.”

Fellow resident Emma Dale wrote on Facebook: “It’s supposed to be over by the end of March but I’m not hopeful.

“I live on Hales Place and when it’s this bad I shut all my windows, but somehow my whole flat ends up stinking. So disgusting and intolerable.”

Magz Hall wrote: “There is no way such a site should be near residential houses - they are stinking out the whole of Canterbury.”

Viridor says it is aware odours have been released and is working to find a solution.

In a letter sent to residents last month, site manager Darren Eyers wrote: “As part of our permit obligations we capture landfill gas from the site that is used in engines to produce electricity, which is exported to the national grid, offsetting carbon emissions.

“Viridor employs independent specialists to routinely monitor the site’s environmental performance and regularly submits monitoring data to the regulator.

“Since the summer of last year, we have put in place a series of additional measures to monitor and control potential emissions from Shelford Landfill.

“It has, however, recently come to my attention that some odours have been periodically detected within the local area.

“I wanted you to know that we continue to undertake additional site engineering work to further control emissions and make progressive improvements.

“We are grateful for your patience while we complete these important site activities as quickly as possible.

“The majority are scheduled for completion by the end of March, subject to suitable weather conditions.”

A number of complaints have been sent to the Environment Agency (EA).

The agency said: “We have received reports about odour from Shelford.

"Our regulatory team is monitoring the situation closely. We are using our regulatory powers to work with the operator to resolve the ongoing odour issues at the landfill as quickly as possible.

“All reports are important to us and are used to build a picture of what is happening at the site and to inform our regulatory approach. We also encourage people to contact the site operator directly on 0800 5385536 to report odour issues and receive feedback directly.”

In a statement issued to KentOnline this week, a Viridor spokesman said: “Our Shelford site is managed in accordance with approved planning permission issued by Kent County Council and an Environmental Permit regulated by the Environment Agency to ensure there is no harm to human health or the environment.

“We have put in place a series of additional measures to monitor and control potential emissions and we continue to undertake additional site engineering work to further control emissions and make progressive improvements.

“We are grateful for the patience of our community while we complete these important site activities as quickly as possible.”