COMMUNITY leaders in a village plagued by the smell of sewage are calling on water company bosses to tackle the problem.

Residents of Kirklevington, Teesside, say they are fed up with the smell caused by waste from nearby Crathorne.

Crathorne's sewage is piped to treatment works at Kirk-levington, and locals say the smell can be particularly bad in the area around Kirklevington village hall.

Village hall committee member Mike Page said: "If you are in the village hall when it occurs and you don't like it, you can go for a walk.

"But for local residents living around there, there is no escape. They are a captive audience in their homes.

"We would like to see an end to the problem. It's unhealthy and very unpleasant, especially in the summer."

The sewage piped from Crathorne to Kirklevington works was, for many years, disinfected automatically, until the practice was stopped by Northumbrian Water as it was thought to be affecting the treatment process.

Kirklevington ward councillor and Stockton Mayor, Councillor Jennie Beaumont, said: "After constant lobbying by the residents and myself, they have now decided to put the disinfectant back in, and that is being monitored.

"But we look forward to a long-term solution."

Coun Beaumont said the smell some evenings was particularly bad, and having to suffer such a problem was "ridiculous in this day and age".

Northumbrian Water is promising a full investigation into the matter.

A spokeswoman said: "Over the past few months, work was carried to rectify the odour problem, and this took place at the top end of Forest Lane and cost tens of thousands of pounds.

"It then became apparent the odour returned, and this disinfectant dosing was started again at the beginning of this month.

"The next step is that further investigations will take place, looking at the history of the odour issue.

"Once the problem has been resolved, the required job will be prioritised for the solution to be carried out."