PUNGENT smells and emissions from the steel mill in Sheerness will soon be eradicated.

The promise comes from the Environment Agency and senior managers at Thamesteel.

Partial closure of roof vents and the installation of a water screen are just two methods being introduced next week during the shutdown period to reduce emissions from the plant in Brielle Way. And managers say they hope to solve problems with the smell by the end of October.

Keith Plowman, general manager for quality assurance, health and safety, and environment, said the company was investing large sums of money in getting to the bottom of the emissions.

He said: "I am confident we will sort it out. We don't want to cause a nuisance to the local community."

It is thought the smell is caused by impurities in the scrap metal during the melting process.

Dr David Johnson, site inspector for the Environment Agency, has visited the steel works and is working with management to work out how the smell and other emissions can be stopped.

He said: "There have been a lot of complaints and I have been monitoring it very closely. We have agreed a course of action with them and there is an ongoing programme of work trying to identify exactly what is causing this odour.

"This affects a lot of people in the neighbourhood. There is no question about it, we are not going to let this one go."

Local anger over pollution from the mill resumed in April when it re-opened as Thamesteel.