Rushden Monoworld building approved after fly plague row

The flies affecting businesses and residents have been blamed on Monoworld's recycling plant

A recycling firm blamed for a plague of flies of "biblical proportions" is to construct a new building it hopes will solve the issue.

Businesses and residents claimed the flies came from Monoworld on the Sanders Lodge industrial estate in Rushden, Northamptonshire.

The Environment Agency said the company needed a new enclosed facility to reduce the risk.

The county council approved Monoworld's plans on Tuesday.

Monoworld recycles plastic waste products such as food packaging and it was thought the flies came from dirty containers stored in the open air.

Jeremy Aldwinckle, of nearby company TR Lawman Ltd, said he had experienced problems with flies for the past two summers.

Jeremy Aldwinckle said the fly-killer in his workplace canteen had been emptied six days before this photograph was taken in July last year

He described it as "a plague of biblical proportions" and said electric fly-killers installed in the canteen were killing up to 50 flies each day.

Following complaints, the Environment Agency amended Monoworld's licence, requiring it to store waste indoors in a building with self-closing doors in order to contain any flies.

The company applied for planning permission which was granted by the council's development control committee.