A LANDFILL site which has plagued neighbours with the stench of rotting waste could face legal action.

The Biffa-owned site, near Winterton and Roxby, has prompted dozens of complaints from local people and the Enviornment Agency (EA) is now considering prosecution.

The EA received 165 complaints about the site last year– a huge leap from the previous peak of 34, received in 2008.

People, businesses and officials in the area all say the site is a problem, with many feeling steps should be taken to tackle the foul odour emanating from the site.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: "We are working with the Roxby site at the moment, investigating (the issue of the smell) to see if a prosecution is appropriate.

"There is no typical number of complaints we receive about a site, sometimes there is no issue with smell and obviously we receive no complaints, but if there is an odour then we'll get a lot."

The agency is responsible for regulating landfill sites and making sure they do not affect the environment with pollution, smells, litter, vermin or noise.

The spokeswoman said part of an investigation into a site could include testing the concentration of the gases emitted to check if they were harmful to people and confirmed such tests may be carried out at Roxby.

The landfill is just a short distance from Winterton's Top Road. Residents there said the obnoxious odour was a constant concern.

Dennis Pilgrim, 64,who has lived in his home for 34 years, said summertime was when the smell was at its worst.

"If it's a warm night you can't have your bedroom window open to let the air in because it smells too bad," he said.

"We can rarely have any windows open and even when they're closed the smell can get in through a vent we have.

"I do think something needs to be done, the air used to be sweet and fresh round here but not any more.

"It's a horrible rotten smell, it's not pleasant to have to put up with."

His wife Janet, 50, added: "It is disgusting, it is something you notice day to day.

"It's horrible when it gets inside the house."

Fellow Top Road resident Tim Storey, 39, said the stench of decomposing waste made it hard to enjoy his garden.

"You can't play outside with the kids, have a barbecue or do some gardening without it getting in the way," he said.

"I work in Scunthorpe and there's a spot on the A1077 where it just reeks.

"My wife doesn't like hanging washing out some days because she's worried it'll make the stuff smell."

The number of complaints has totalled 281 since 2001, with 165 of these made in 2009 alone.

The previous high came in 2008 with 34 complaints, before that the number peaked at 23 in 2002.

Other years, numbers ranged between two in 2001 and 18, in 2004.

So far in 2010, five complaints have already been made.

Biffa did not respond despite repeated requests for comment.