More than £50,000 will be spent improving a Fenland sewage treatment works following complaints from residents about the smell.

Fenland District Council will refurbish Newton Sewage Treatment Plant to improve reliability and efficiency.

Fifty-seven houses in the village are not connected to the main drain.

MP Steve Barclay has been instrumental in pushing for refurbishment works - he held a meeting with residents on January 17 and has been in contact with Anglian Water and the council.

Mr Barclay said: “There has been concern for some time in Newton at the periodic unpleasant smell linked to problems with the treatment of sewage.

“Newton Parish Council chairman John Hoyles MBE wrote to me to first raise concerns with this issue, with particular emphasis on the impact on 57 properties in the village which are not connected to the main drain.

“Following my intervention I am pleased that work will now take place to improve reliability and efficiency of the sewage plant.

“I will continue to press Anglian Water to take suitable action in support of residents.”

Trevor Watson, head of assets and projects at FDC, said: “FDC take the operation of their sewage treatment plant very seriously and have robust maintenance arrangements in place.

“The plant consistently achieves its required discharge quality standards and there is no evidence to suggest there should be any cause for concern.

“There has been an occasional issue with pump blockages at the treatment plant, but this is largely due to people putting inappropriate items down their toilets and drains.

“We continue to encourage residents to appreciate the implications of their actions and resist putting inappropriate items down their toilets.

“FDC will continue to invest in their treatment works and are planning refurbishment works at the Newton plant aimed predominantly at the pumping station which will result in improved reliability and efficiency.

“The planned works will cost in excess of £50,000 and are proposed to be ordered shortly.”