RESIDENTS living near a car repair workshop claim their health is being damaged by paint-spraying fumes from the business.

They voiced their concerns over emissions from J Macadam and Son Ltd, in North Valley Road, at a meeting of Pendle Council's Colne committee on Wednesday.

Members were to disucuss the firm's retrospective planning application for six extraction flues on the site.

And resident Alan Driver, of Wordsworth Road, told councillors he was suffering from sore throat, tiredness and a cough, which he blamed on the emissions. He said: "This should not be passed. It is out of order, a public nuisance and a health hazard."

One young mum also said her son could not play out in the garden because of the fumes.

Coun David Clegg told fellow members he had visited some of the disgruntled residents ahead of the meeting. He said: "It definitely makes you feel unwell and makes your eyes run.

"It is important we know what might be coming out of the factory. I want environmental health to go down there and find out what it is - if it is something that shouldn't be coming out, it should be stopped."

Planning officers said councillors had to judge the application on the grounds of the visual impact of the flues. But after initially recommending the plans be approved, they then suggested they be deferred for further information and to allow time for environmental health officers to

investigate.

The planning application will come back to the next meeting of the committee in August, along with a report from environmental health officers.

Doug Macadam, owner of the garage, said the paint used complies with Government regulations and the erection of the flues is to monitor the emissions from the bays as the equipment has moved.

He said: "There is no cause for concern as the air that comes out is cleaner then what goes in.

"We spoke with the local authority last year and they said they had no objections with the work we did.

"If they did have objections, we wouldn't be able to do the work we do."