A councillor claimed residents are living in a “scene from the First World War” as their row with an animal rendering firm rumbles on.

The Stop Omega Stink (SOS) group is representing people from Thornton, Denholme, Well Heads and surrounding areas who have complained about smells from Omega Proteins, based at Erlings Works, Denholme.

Councillor Martin Love (Green, Shipley) told a meeting of the environment and waste management overview and scrutiny committee he had visited residents living nearby the plant and seen first-hand what they were angry about.

He said: “It was like a scene from the First World War. Gas rolling across the fields to the house as I stood in the kitchen. The billowing of these clouds was quite shocking.”

Residents at the meeting at City Hall last night were left angry and frustrated when it emerged there would be no resolution to their problem as Bradford Council environment officers had yet to meet representatives of Omega.

That get-together was due to take place today, much to the bemusement of councillors at last night’s meeting.

Coun David Robinson (Ind, Wyke) said: “It seems so strange. That meeting should have taken place before this meeting.”

Chairman of the committee Coun Love asked environment officers to get all the relevant information together by June.

Lynette Cadamarteri, secretary of the protest group, said: “We hoped we would have some resolution to the many concerns we have raised for over ten years about operations on the site.

“However, no action can be taken by Council officers until this draft report is agreed by Omega Proteins and the environment officers.”

On the odour problem, Mrs Cadamarteri said: “This is an extra job for all of us, just to make sure this company is held accountable.

“I get physically sick in my garden from the smell. The plumes invade residents’ homes and they cannot escape.

“This is where they live, sleep and eat, and they cannot escape it.”

Bradford Council deputy leader Coun Simon Cooke (Con, Bingley Rural), said the Council should have refused the initial planning application for the Omega Proteins site in the first place.

He added: “For some residents, I don’t think insufferable sums it up – it is almost unliveable with.”