Residents in Kingsteignton who live near the giant Heathfield composting facility have 'lost the will to live' according to a councillor who wants better arrangements for reporting bad smells.

In 2005 temporary planning permission for the processing plant was granted to private operator Viridor.

It recycles kitchen waste in vessels which are designed to contain the inevitable odours.

According to computer modelling conducted on behalf of the firm in 2008 the chance of anyone detecting a nasty whiff should be low.

'Emissions from the composting activities are unlikely to give rise to reasonable cause for annoyance at the residential and commercial properties in the surrounding area,' it said.

But not everyone agrees that the odour-control measures have been working as they should be and now Viridor has applied to Devon County Council for permission to stay on the site permanently.