A RURAL stench which residents claim is making lives a misery may be down to “very intensive” legal farming practices, an MP has revealed.

Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcestershire, says legal powers to tackle the smell, which has been the scourge of villagers in Stoulton, Hawbridge, Claverton and Littleworth, near Pershore, may be limited, if that proves to be the case.

He has welcomed the intense monitoring of what investigators say is the source of the smell, Wadborough Park Farm near Stoulton.

The owner Henry Rodenhurst said he had “done nothing wrong”. And the latest probe at his farm appears to back his assertion – although investigators are due back on his farm soon.

Mr Luff said: “I am concerned the ability to act may be limited because the law in this area might not be strong enough.”

The problem is that laws do exist to bring an action over poultry and pig farming smells, but not those of intensive cattle farming – like that of Wadborough Park Farm.

The farm can cater for about 3,000 cattle.

Mr Luff was speaking after a large inspection at the farm at the end of December by the Environment Agency (EA) and Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS).

He was given a personal report on the inspection findings by the EA’s regional chief Dafydd Evans on January 18.

“There are perhaps a half dozen farms of similar scale in the entire country, and the EA are looking at what they do to see if there are useful comparisons,”

said Mr Luff.

“Whether they cause nuisance to residents in their local area, and if not, why not,” he said.

“It may be this is a completely unique situation.”

He said it was now “clear” the cause was “probably the intensive cattle production”. “What we can say to residents is the cause appears to be nothing sinister, scary or out-of-the-ordinary”.

There has been wide public concern over possible health implications – the smell has been that bad, with residents and businesses suffering.

But the EA and WRS probe only uncovered small-scale “pollution of a nearby watercourse” which has since been rectified, two “minor animal welfare issues which were easy to solve” and some issues with “odour management from slurry and feed”.

An EA spokeswoman said: “WRS officers want an end to any excessive malodours occurring, and will continue to explore all legal options available.”

Mr Luff said: “The regulatory authorities will look stupid if they do not sort this out.

“The people in the Stoulton area are suffering a kind of stench they simply should not have to tolerate.

I am awaiting the results of further inspections due over the next two weeks.”