A stomach-churning smell lingering over Canvey sparked calls on Friday for an official investigation.

Furious islanders bombarded police, the fire brigade and local councillors with complaints about the sickening cabbage-like stench, believed to be gas, which began on Thursday morning and continued into the early hours of Friday.

The situation was made worse by stifling overnight temperatures of up to 60 degrees but residents could not open their windows because of the dreadful smell.

Linda Wallis, 51, of Deepwater Road, said: "I could not sleep until 5am because it was so stuffy but I could not open the windows due to the smell.

"It made me feel physically sick because you could actually taste it in your mouth. We called the police because we were really worried it could be a major leak from one of the terminals on the island. If a spark ignited the whole place would go up.

"Nobody seemed to know what to do."

She added: "My husband said he was so fed up he wanted to move house - but why should we?"

Councillor Ray Howard was inundated with calls from fed-up residents.

He said: "It is time for an official investigation into Calor Gas, Shell, BP and any other firm which could be responsible for these appalling smells. I also plan to lodge an official complaint with Her Majesty's Inspector for Pollution.

"We have had a couple of leaks in the last few weeks which Calor Gas owned up to but this one is certainly the worst by far. Something has to be done urgently."

Resident William Sier, of Canvey Road, said the suffocating stench reached its worst at around 5pm on Thursday, forcing him to stay inside with the windows shut.

He said: "I took the dog out at 11pm and I could still smell it then. To have to close your windows in this hot weather is not right.

"It is such a shame because Canvey has a lot going for it again but this kind of thing spoils it. It undermines all the work people are doing to make this a nice place to live."

Castle Point Council has also received a deluge of calls throughout the week about sickly smells but believes the odours may be coming from further afield.

Alan Longford, director of health and housing, said: "We have been trying to identify the source all week and we do not believe it is from Canvey. We think it is coming from Kent and we are doing the necessary checks."

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