A business owner claims a foul stench wafting through his premises is driving disgusted customers away.

Robert Ellis, boss of R A E Auto Services, says the smell is so bad that people are being put off from bringing vehicles to be repaired and serviced at his unit in Dryden Street, Bradford, and he has now started a collect-and-delivery service.

"People have driven up in their cars, opened the doors, screwed up their noses and driven off it is so bad," he said.

"I've lost a lot of business and had to buy a second van to do a collection-and-delivery service.

"Two businesses previously moved out of this unit. And a man delivering overalls to me came with a T-shirt over his face.

"The post woman says she hates coming down this street."

Mr Ellis, pictured with his son Robert, has kept a diary of smells and recorded them on July 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 and 31, August 1, 4 and yesterday.

He said "I've made complaint after complaint to environmental health.

"We're desperate because no one seems to want to listen to us."

Gareth Martin, development manager of Waddington Waste Management Solutions which is situated opposite RAE Auto Services, said: "We are working very hard and investing a lot of money on any problem in terms of odour.

"But there are other companies in the area dealing with odorous products."

Waddingtons has just had a £1 million machine installed which works by heating the waste to massive temperatures and recovering energy in the form of steam, which is used elsewhere in the site.

The treated air is released into the atmosphere through a tall chimney.

Director Mark Waddington said recently the machine was new and not yet working to perfection and that the hot weather was making the problem harder to control.

But he said the plant, which works 24 hours a day, was already gearing up to ensure it was in line with Government regulations which come into force next year.

A spokesman for Bradford Council's environmental protection department said: "We are aware of concerns raised about alleged smells coming from P Waddington and Co Ltd. The company is currently trying out different odour-abatement techniques at the rendering plant to try to tackle the problem. Environmental protection officers will continue to monitor the situation during this trial period."