IT’S one of the biggest mysteries Romsey has seen in years and experts are still no closer to solving it.

Despite extensive investigations Environment Agency officials are still unable to track down the origins of a mystery pungent pong that has plagued the town for several months.

Romsey town centre’s manager Mark Edgerley is the latest to complain about the nasty whiff and he is worried it might drive tourists away. The smell, which has been in the air on and off since last December, has at times been likened to rotten eggs and people across the town have complained to the Environment Agency and Test Valley Borough Council environmental health department about it.

Some people had pointed the finger at the Squabb Wood Landfill site at Shootash, but so far officials have ruled it out.

Mr Edgerley, who is employed by the town council, said: “Romsey Town Council is very concerned about the continuing odour nuisance. We are very keen to see this problem controlled and removed as soon as possible.”

He added: “To that end we are liaising with Test Valley Borough Council’s Environmental Protection Team and others on establishing where the problem is. It is important that evidence on time and date, precise location, description and strength of odour and information on the weather is collated to pinpoint the source which may not be the most obvious one suggested by some residents.”

Environment Agency staff have been monitoring the Viridor-owned Squabb Wood Landfill site for months but have been unable to detect any signs of the smell there.

A spokesman said: “Our investigations are continuing. We, along with TVBC, are busy investigating the odour complaints and eliminating potential sources such as landfills, the sewage treatment plant (Greenhill) and agricultural activities in the area.”

Admitting that so far no one has been able to find out where the offensive stench is coming from, he added: “We are working with the operators of the Squabb Wood site, Viridor, who are fully cooperative. Our officers, along with Viridor’s technical managers, have carried out various inspections at the site looking in detail at the gas system and its associated infrastructure. To date we have found no evidence of any problems with the gas system.

“The site is either fully or temporary capped with full gas extraction across the whole site. Only the operational area remains open and it is covered with inert material at the end of every working day. This means the site is fully enclosed apart from the area where they are tipping.”

Staff and pupils at Hampshire Collegiate School, which is opposite the Squabb Wood Landfill tip, have also noticed a whiff.

“The school has on occasions been affected by odours in the Romsey area. Our business manager who oversees the estate has visited the landfill estate to enquire where the smell was emanating from,” said school spokesperson Susannah Rendall.

She added: “However, both Viridor and the Environment Agency have stated that whilst there is a slight operational smell localised around the site, this is not the same odour that has been detected across Romsey. The school is continuing to liaise with both the Environment Agency and Viridor until this issue is resolved.”

Borough council officials have produced record sheets so that residents can jot down when they get a whiff of the smell and these are available from Romsey Town Hall between 9am and 3pm weekdays only or by emailing tcm@romseytc.org.uk .

People can also call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060 to report any issues with the mystery smell.