FLIES are swarming a neighbourhood and residents say a controversial landfill site is to blame.
Residents of Surgeys Lane, in Arnold, have seen hordes of flies during the hot weather and believe the tip at Dorket Head, run by FCC Recycling, is the source.
More than 1,000 complaints have been filed with the Environment Agency over the past year about the smell from the site, peaking in November with 350.
There were seven complaints about the smell on July 22 alone and 16 reports of flies so far this month.
John Parkin, 68, of Surgeys Lane, said: "If you go out in the garden, every plant is covered in flies. It's like living in a dustbin, even with the windows shut. At times, it's unbearable."
Mr Parkin said he had been killing about 30 flies a day inside his house.
He added: "People have been saying they've never seen anything like it before. I knew there was a problem up here but I thought they had done something about it."
A petition about the smell was launched in 2009 and Mr Parkin said he would sign a new one focusing on the flies.
Neighbour Amanda Munroe said: "If we have our front doors open, we would be inundated with flies. We've had to buy a proper fly curtain and there must have been 100 flies on it."
Mrs Munroe said the smell was not as bad as in the past but the flies were a new problem.
She added. "And it's not just here.
"People from well down the road have been complaining about it too."
The Environment Agency says it is investigating the source of the problem.
It says that lab results show the flies could come from a number of places.
Louise Johnson, its environment manager for south Notts, said: "During the time residents reported an increase in flies, we visited the Dorket Head landfill and surrounding area on a number of occasions. We will continue to monitor the situation and if the landfill is found to be the source or in breach of permit conditions, we will require FCC to take action."
An FCC Recycling spokesman said: "We regularly monitor both odour levels and fly activity at the landfill and will take immediate action if the site is found to be a significant source of either.
"We continue to substantially invest in the site's infrastructure to minimise the risk of odours from the landfill and are working closely with the Environment Agency."
To report problems, residents should call 0115 967 3446 or e-mail dorket.head@fccenvironment.co.uk.
The landfill site is split into cells. Work to build a seventh cell was set to start on Monday last week but was postponed.
