A SMELLY ditch, which has been polluted for the last four years, is turning customers away from buying hay, a farmer in Grittenham has said.

Jacqueline and Christopher Ody, of Pinnell Farm, believe their business is suffering as a result of the smell but that the Environment Agency won’t do anything about it.

“The ditch runs right through my property,” Mrs Ody said. “It is so badly polluted that the Environment Agency had someone come and take samples away for testing and it stinks. It’s gone from being green and foamy to jet black.

“It is affecting our life. We have nothing to do with the ditch and quite a lot of people come to us to buy hay but when they smell the ditch running through our property they often turn away and never come back.”

Mrs Ody believes the pollution is coming from another farm and, despite not being responsible for the trench, she and her husband donned their wellies to clear it out from cow runnings, septic tank contents and litter last year.

“We cleaned it out in November last year but within two months, the waste had returned.

“If you can be fined £150 on the spot for dropping litter, why can’t you be fined for polluting the environment like this?

The couple also believe that the number of great crested newts, which are a European protected species, in the area is also being affected by smelly waste floating through the property.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “The Environment Agency is aware of this location and takes all reports of pollution seriously. We continue to investigate the source of pollution.

“Both the Environment Agency and partners have been working closely to improve the environment at this location.

“A number of steps have already been taken and further action will be taken to reduce the potential for any further impact.”