Burning woodland in Dover is causing misery for residents and businesses affected by the heavy smoke.

It is believed this is part of a planned clearing of the trees near Poulton Close and Coombe Road.

The thick smoke has been affecting visibility as well as having a detrimental impact on those who suffer from asthma for the last two days.

One business owner at Whitecliff House, Steve Oxenham said: “People are feeling nauseous - windows are having to be closed. There is an asthma sufferer currently quite distressed.

“It’s clearly an organised burn but fancy doing it in a built up area where people are suffering from smoke inhalation.

“I have driven from the race circuit in St Radigunds to the hospital and the worst area appears to be behind Poulton Garage. We are situated in Whitecliff House and the whole building is shrouded in smoke.

“It’s been going on all day and yesterday but today is intolerable.”

Mr Oxenham said he believes the Environmental Health at Dover District Council has been contacted.

He has had to send his staff home early as the office was "fumigated" and their clothes stunk of the smoke.

He said: "To make matters worse they did not inform us that this was going to happen - no prior warning whatsoever.

"I have one member of staff who suffers from asthma and another with a heart condition.

He added: “Someone’s head should roll for doing this where people are living and working. It’s disgraceful.”