People living near an oil refinery have said they fear an “obnoxious smell” coming from the site has had an impact on their health.

Ella O’Neill, who lives near Stanlow in Ellesmere Port, said locals had been suffering from coughs, sore throats, and headaches since the smell began.

Essar Oil UK, which runs the site, said it was monitoring air quality and was sorry for “ongoing issues with odours”. It stated that the problem was related to an incident with a tank on-site more than a week ago.

Ms O’Neill said a strong smell of gas had forced her to keep her windows and doors shut, preventing her two-year-old son from playing outside for more than two weeks.

“As soon as you open a door or window, you can smell it,” she said.

“The smell is so bad. We still don’t know what has leaked and who knows what we are breathing in,” said Ms O’Neill.

She believes her current chest infection and breathing issues were caused by the stench. Despite being a non-smoker with no history of breathing problems, she has been on antibiotics for five days and still experiences a cough.

Chloe Haveron, a mother-of-two with asthma, expressed her concerns about feeling like a “prisoner” in her own home due to the strong and obnoxious smell from the refinery. She also mentioned the lack of advice or guidance from Essar.

“Every time you open the door, it’s in your face, it’s in the back of your throat. It makes me feel dizzy,” Ms Haveron added.

Her main concern is the safety of her children if they play outside. She questions the potential impact on their health.

Essar Oil UK stated that “significant progress” has been made in addressing the issue related to a single tank on the site. They expect the problem to be fully resolved by the weekend.

The company is collaborating with the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. According to their monitoring, the odours are reducing, and they believe no additional action is required

A representative from Essar Oil UK confirmed that the Environment Agency has visited the site and regular updates are being provided. The company also assured residents that they will be informed about any further progress.