There could be the sweet scent of success for campaigners living near a Tonbridge deodorant factory.

Around 700 people signed an online petition asking for action to be taken, after living with the sickly smells coming from the Drytec factory in Morley Road for 20 years.

But the plant owners have announced that specialist equipment, called a Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser, which removes smells by exposing them to up to 1,200 degree heat, will be up and running by May in a bid to solve the problem.

It is thought to have cost the factory more than £175,000 to install.

In the meantime, Drytec will be looking at production methods to try and reduce odour impact and also attending to some housekeeping matters on their site.

The major investments were announced at the first meeting of a council liaison group this month .

Chairman of the liaison group, cllr Mark Davis said: “We are very pleased to have drawn the various agencies and interests together in a real effort to address this odour problem in the town.

“At the first meeting, I was particularly grateful for the constructive approach adopted by everyone. Drytec has outlined a credible plan to move us forward and we are most optimistic about that. The council will continue to monitor the situation in close partnership with the local residents, also working with the Environment Agency and Public Health England.”

Over the 20 years of manufacturing, the smell has said to have changed from being detergent-like to something similar to strawberries or candy floss.

No one from Drytec was available for comment.