European pong lingers over London

Updated 13.46 Sat Apr 19 2008

Keywords: England, London, channel, weather, foul, smell

A foul smell which hung over parts of southern England has been blamed on winds bringing fumes from across the Channel, weather experts said.

The manure-like smell was reported in London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, East Anglia and as far west as Devon.

The manure-like smell was reported in London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, East Anglia and as far west as Devon

According to the Met Office, the smell is believed to have been caused by a combination of agricultural and industrial pollution carried on the wind from Northern Europe.

Sarah Holland, a forecaster for the Met Office, said: "Over the last few days, fresh winds have been blowing eastwards. The origins of the smell come from Europe and have brought in pollution.

"When the wind blows from the west, it is coming from the Atlantic so it brings in virtually no pollution, but when it is eastwards it is coming across land."

Weather experts were trying to locate the source of the aroma but another theory is that the smell of muck-spreading from mainland Europe has been carried on the wind to the UK.