THE Environment Agency has launched an investigation after people living near a smouldering rubbish tip claimed the stench was affecting their health.

Mum Sarah Webster, who has three children, aged three, six and eight, said they had all been "really poorly," with her six-year-old daughter vomiting 15 times in one night.

The EA said the the reeking rubbish pile in Great Heck, near Selby - which could contain up to 10,000 tonnes of rubbish - was run by Wagstaff TWM Ltd, which has gone into liquidation.

The agency said it was investigating alleged waste offences and monitoring the odour from the site, near the M62 motorway, that stockpiled mixed recyclable waste, adding that any health concerns should be discussed with a general practitioner.

Sarah, 40, who lives about 200 yards from the refuse pile, said there always had been a smell but not as bad as this. "On Friday night it was pretty toxic, it was awful. I had to lock my gates and when I went out I had to cover my mouth with a jumper," she said.

"It is vile, it smells toxic, at times it smells very plasticky. I am really worried what we are breathing in here."

Sarah, who is married to farm labourer Stephen, 52, said her six-year-old daughter came home a couple of weeks ago and was sick 15 times in one night and had an awful headache.

She added that her three-year-old daughter was also left feeling unwell, and her eight-year-old son, who suffers with asthma, also had a headache.

She said she phoned 111 and was told to bring her children to casualty within half an hour so they could be checked out.

They were tested but Sarah said they found nothing and her family began to feel better as they moved away from the smell.

"It gives you itchy eyes, I myself wear contact lenses and I haven't been able to for about two weeks," she added.

"The smell gets in your throat and you can taste it, makes you feel sick and gives me blinding headaches.

"The stink always gets into the house even if we keep the windows shut, we have a coal fire and its comes down the chimney.

"We are not getting enough help and the stuff is not moving quick enough. The EA told me one lorry load had gone out in a fortnight and the landlord is supposed to be taking out a lorry load a day. That's what I've been told.

"I don't care who moves it but it needs moving.

"Ideally I want it moved tomorrow or today - it just needs to be moved.

"Its causing health problem, it smells toxic, you don't know what you are breathing in."

No one from the business was available for comment.