A West Molesey man is livid about the terrible smell from illegal toxic smoke billowing from a Hersham industrial estate.

Paul Cross, who lives in Eastcote Avenue, south-west London, said the North Weylands Industrial Estate, near Hersham station, had bellowed out disgusting, smelly smoke for years and the stink extended all the way to Hampton Court.

He said: "There is the constant smell of burning waste material six days a week around here. It smells like plastic or polystyrene materials and I am sure it contains toxic chemicals. It has been ongoing for the last 10 years.

"People are banned from burning plastics in their back gardens. So I do not see why a company should be allowed to burn materials which could cause pollution and damage the health of people living in the area."

Chris Mitchell, senior environment officer at the Environment Agency, said an investigation had been going on for a year to find the root of the problem. But due to the size of the site and the many companies that operate there, the cause of the problem was difficult to determine.

He said: "We can't prove who is doing the burning, it could be one of several people.

"We have found remains from bonfires which could have been treated wood or plastic, it is hard to tell."

He added that some burning is illegal, depending on how and where the burning is taking place, but added that there is also an unlicensed burner on site.

He said: "There is an air curtain burner being used without a permit, and we have asked for this to be stopped. If use continues it can be subject to an enforcement action."

Anyone who would like to make a complaint about the site should contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60, as the investigation is ongoing .