The village is surrounded by agricultural land and is also near Yorkshire Water’s Naburn Wastewater Treatment Works and Sludge Conditioning Site.
Several residents said they thought the stench had got worse during the recent period of hot weather and had complained to both the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water.
“My little one’s bedroom was 28 degrees the other night and I just couldn’t cool it down with fans and you can’t have the windows open because the smell comes in and it’s rancid and makes you feel sick,” said 37-year-old Mrs Lewis.
“I’d say the last three years it’s been particularly bad and it’s been getting worse and worse and this year it’s been the worst it’s been.”
Bridget Lowe, 70, who has lived in the village for 10 years, added: “There were a couple of evenings when it was really hot when the smell was all through the house and it was nauseating.”