HAVE you noticed the diesel-like pong affecting businesses, traders and customers in an area of Newtown town centre?

A fuel-like smell has been plaguing Market Street in the town centre for a number of weeks now, and those based there are appealing for help as they try to figure out what has been causing it.

Neil Jarman, of BJ's Electrical said: "We've been really struggling with a smell of diesel and we are not sure where it's coming from

"I've rang the environmental health department, the fire brigade have been out and I've contacted Severn Trent water.

"But environmental health are unable to do anything until it's been located, and a cause has been established.

"It's affecting us and a number of businesses from the solicitor to the hairdressers, who have had to keep their door open in the cold because of the smell.

"We first noticed a few months ago but it seems to be getting stronger and stronger."

The frustration for those on Market Street is that they have been unable to establish where the smell is coming from.

Mr Jarman added: "It could be an old abandoned fuel tank or something to do with old drains.

"We just want someone to come along and take a proper at what could be causing it."