CONCERNS over smells have put paid to a poultry plant's bid to produce more chickens.

Maelor Foods in Wrexham, which already has permission to process up to 400,000 birds each week, wanted to increase its production to a million a week.

But Wrexham council's planning committee refused the application after hearing concerns over bad odour despite a recommendation for approval by officers after owner Salisbury Poultry said it would create 200 new jobs.

The proposals for the £20m factory, which opened in 2017, initially faced concerns by the authority's highways department but chief planning officer Lawrence Isted said he was satisfied when the company agreed to carry out road safety improvements.

Community leaders said the odour created by the building had left residents in nearby areas feeling ill, leading councillors to turn the application down.

"They were unable to have their windows open, unable to sit in their gardens and unable to sleep at night because of the noxious smell in their own homes," said Councillor John Pritchard.

Cllr Pritchard read out a letter which revealed that Natural Resources Wales had received 12 complaints about the site since it opened in November 2017.

The agency said the issues were caused by effluent tanks and offal trailers and it was working with the company to address problems.

The council's business and investment team said Maelor Foods has already delivered an investment into the county of £20m and their latest plans would bring a wider range of job opportunities.