Traders in Walsall are kicking up a stink over a mysterious bad smell which they believe is deterring visitors from coming into the town centre.

They claim the stench around the Civic Quarter is creating a rotten image of the area. Shopkeeper Rajinder Johal, from Athwal News, in Leicester Street, is demanding action to rid the town centre of the smell, which has been blamed on sewage.   

He said: “It has been a problem since I came to this shop seven years ago but other people have told me it has been going on longer than that.    

“All the traders have been talking about the smell, which is revolting and like rotten sewage some days, and the root of the problem needs to be found.”

Severn Trent spokeswoman Sophie Jordan said: “Severn Trent Water has a sewage treatment works close to the town centre. However, we are not experiencing any problems at the site that could cause odour issues.”