Residents in Tonbridge have been noticing the return of a well-known smell coming from the Drytec factory, despite it being issued an abatement notice by the council requiring it to stop the sickly-sweet pong.

Drytec, of Morley Road, was given the notice by Tonbridge and Malling Borough council in June, but weeks on there are still complaints of the smell.

The factory, that produces fragrances used in deodorant and flavours for food, has been troubling residents in Tonbridge for 20 years.

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

However, the installation of the equipment did not begin until the council intervened and issued the notice.

The council said after issuing the notice there was a significant decrease in the number of complaints received, however over the past week it has been made aware of the smell returning.

Trevor Allen, general manager of Drytec said: "The commissioning of the equipment designed to filter the smell is ongoing. We have been carrying out work to improve the problem, and using some of the machinery has unfortunately resulted in the smell returning.

"However, despite these odours we believe there has been massive improvements in the emissions. Work is ongoing at the moment."

Despite its industrial location in Tonbridge, emissions from the factory can often be smelt in the north of the town and residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration.

Steve Humphrey, the borough council's director of planning, housing and environmental health says: "Following a number of delays, during which the Council served an Abatement Notice on the Company, Drytec completed the installation of equipment to prevent the emission of odours from its factory in July.

"Clearly there are some outstanding matters that Drytec need to resolve and we expect them to act quickly to identify the reasons behind the on-going odour emissions and stop them.

"The Council continues to make sure local residents are updated, as well as remaining in close contact with the Company, to whom we have expressed our deep concern that complaints are continuing."

"The Abatement Notice remains in force and whether or not the Council takes steps to enforce against it will depend upon the response of the Company to prevent future emissions."

700 people signed an online petition in February this year demanding action to be taken after becoming fed up of living with the smells.