Residents fury over stench

The stench of rotting flesh has been plaguing an exclusive Shropshire village - one of the county’s leading tourist destinations.

Residents of Wroxeter claim they have been living with the smell for weeks and when they investigated they were stunned to discover the decaying carcasses of sheep.

The animals were discovered in a field opposite the parish church.

Six sheep were originally found at the site and another one was recently discovered by Brian Nelson, Wroxeter and Uppington Parish Council chairman.

“It has been reported to trading standards,” he said. “A number of villagers have found dead sheep including myself.”

Roger Pittaway, council clerk, said: “Over the last few months there have been terrible stenches of rotting carcasses.

“One resident went to have a look and found six dead sheep. The farmer thinks they were washed up after the floods, but we believe the carcasses were above where the water level came to.”

Wroxeter is a tourist destination in Shropshire due to its Roman city, which is run by English Heritage, and vineyard.

The field where the sheep were found is owned by English Heritage, but leased to a local farmer.

An English Heritage spokeswoman said: “We are concerned following the recent incidents of sheep dying and some carcasses being left to decompose on farmland surrounding Wroxeter Roman City. This land is owned by English Heritage, but leased to a local tenant farmer.

“We are taking this matter very seriously and have contacted our tenant to ensure proper health and safety and animal welfare standards are being followed.

“We have also reported the matter to Shropshire County Council’s trading standards and Defra Animal Health, whose responsibility it is to investigate any potential breach of animal welfare and health and safety standards.”

The farmer, who declined to be named, said: “I have now resolved the problem and I was as deeply concerned about the animals as the residents. I had no control over the flooding of the river and the animals which were washed down and deposited on the land.”

By Rhea Parsons