Residents fear they could be left holding their noses if a plan for a shrimp cultivation unit goes ahead.

Laisterdyke residents dread a foul fishy smell will permeate their neighbourhood if the development by Wakefield-based Orion Homes is successful.

Councillor Rupert Oliver (Lib Dem, Bowling) is backing the campaign amid concerns that the unit could smell so bad that house prices in the area will plummet.

Coun Oliver said: "I don't think this is a suitable location for this kind of activity. I'm no expert, but I understand that shrimps are smelly. The unit that the plan is proposed for is in a tight space and so any potential odour would have quite an impact."

Coun Oliver is also concerned that the development might cause a hazard from increased traffic.

The plan is for two units in a block owned by the developer which has not been previously occupied, at the corner of Broad Lane and Dick Lane.

Sheila Brennan, 38, of Winchester Gardens, moved to the area in September. She lives within about 20ft of the site and had no knowledge of the plan when she moved in. She said: "In the summer especially, we worry it will stink. We might not be able to open the windows, let alone sit out in our gardens, and the prices of our houses could fall because of it.

"We haven't been given enough notice of this. There are only two notices on lamp posts in the area and someone has put a notice up in the newsagents, warning us about it." But a spokesman for Bradford planning department said site notices had been put up and letters sent to people living in houses adjoining the site.

He added: "We are confident we have done the required advertising for this proposed development."

Planning notices in the area say residents have until Monday to object, but the spokesman confirmed the deadline had been extended to Wednesday.

According to the plan, the unit is for "the culture growing of shrimps, which involves heating water to a moderate temperature and introducing the culture, which is then allowed to grow over a period of days."

The tiny shrimps will then be bagged for sale, with the end product resembling "cloudy water".

Orion Homes declined to comment.