The environment agency is investigating after complaints of a foul smell in Yeadon – and they are asking local people to contact them immediately if there are further problems.

Parents are afraid to let their children out to play because of fears that animal remains are being spread on a local field.

They believe a noxious smell pervading the area is coming from animal parts and blood – and they calling for urgent action to resolve the problem.

Local people say the desperate situation is forcing them to keep their children indoors and their windows closed when the smell is at its worst.

Long-suffering residents are adamant that the over-whelming foul smell which has been particularly bad over recent Bank Holiday weekends, is not simply manure.

Heidi Bradshaw, who lives at East Carlton, has serious concerns about the pollution and its effect on children – and has requested that soil samples be taken.

“I am concerned as to what is in it and its effects,” she said.

“I have three children one of whom is severely disabled and I do have concerns about whether I should take him out when the smell is so bad, as not sure what he is breathing in. It is a smell of dead animals not manure.”

She said there were rumours that animal products were being dumped on a local field.

Karen Morris, who lives near Yeadon Tarn, described the smell as “dreadful” – and said it was so bad that her neighbour didn’t like to let her children play out. The rumours are that the awful smell is animal blood and animal waste – it is not manure, it is like dead bodies,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency is investigating complaints of excessive odour from land near Yeadon, following reports from local residents.

“We have visited the area as part of our investigations, and we are in contact with companies that carry out landspreading at that location to check that their activities are in line with environmental regulations.

“While our investigations continue, local people are advised to contact us if they experience any further problems of this nature. They can call our incident hotline, 24 hours a day, on 0800 807060.”

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We have been investigating the queries since we were made aware of the issue last month and are liaising with the Environment Agency to find out what has happened and how best to deal with the problem.”