CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed plans for a community fund to compensate them after foul smells made their lives a misery.

Yorkshire Water is to create the cash fund to benefit long-suffering residents in Hedon, Preston and the surrounding areas.

For 11 years, people have had to put up with a foul stench pervading their homes from the Yorkshire Water waste water treatment works in Saltend.

Now, it is hoped the putrid smells will be a thing of the past after Yorkshire Water installed a new £3.5 million odour control unit.

As a gesture of goodwill to the neighbourhood, Yorkshire Water is setting up the fund to aid local community projects.

Campaigner Ray Duffill, of action group Communities Against Pongs, said: "The fund is a great idea and something that is very welcome.

"It shows some corporate responsibility by Yorkshire Water because we have had to suffer the nasty niffs for 11 years.

"The stench was the pits last summer and residents were forced to take evasive action, such as bringing in washing and cancelling barbecues."

Campaigners have not yet drawn-up a "wish list", and are happy Yorkshire Water was trying to "build bridges" and restore its reputation.

Matt Thompson, of Yorkshire Water, said: "We are keenly aware that we have had to rely on the patience and understanding of local residents for a number of years on this matter.

"We have therefore agreed, as a gesture of goodwill to the local community, to create a community fund to help support local projects that benefit the Hedon and Preston neighbourhood.

"We hope it will be administered by a community liaison panel made up of councillors and local community groups."

Mr Thompson said the community would be given more details about the fund once a panel has been formed.