THE LITTLE community around the cull burner site at Robin Hood Junction in the centre of the Forest of Dean are furious about the environmental dangers and health risks it is posing.

And topping the list of complaints is a stream of fermenting gore leaching from a pile of dead animals – including cows, pigs, sheep and at least one goat – dumped at the site.

One man claims there is a direct link from the site via a culvert which runs across his property, branches under his home and is connected to the main culvert running under nearby Coleford.

"We were promised only sheep. Nobody knew cows were coming too. It is getting into the ponds. The culvert comes across my field, with a branch going right under my house," said John Watkins, whose home of 28 years is a few hundred yards from the burner.

He pointed out the path of the main channel which he said continued on to Coleford, while his six coffee-coloured Jacobs-cross ewes, the first of which lambed on Tuesday morning, looked on. They are all condemned.

"I have been in touch with MAFF and with the Environment Agency, Welsh Water, the district council and Coleford Town Council this morning," he said on Tuesday.

"They didn't tell us at all about the cows and they don't seem to have considered the BSE question. It isn't right, is it?"

And Norman Greenway, whose white cottage actually abutts the site, said he had been condemned to living sealed within his double-glazing while noise and noxious smoke surrounded it night and day.

"I am claiming compensation. I had intended to sell up just before all this happened and move to a smaller place but nobody will want to buy it now," he said.

"It is bad enough with just the one burner going at the moment (another two are scheduled for the site) but soon there will be a constant stream of lorries."

A tight security cordon by Team Force surrounds the site and its border with the ponds but some neighbours claimed it was possible to glimpse the piles of animals – including cows – and ash spread over the site. However the Review team was not allowed close enough to verify this.

Other neighbours complained some of the trucks calling at the site had not been covered, with liquid spilling from their loads onto the road.

We were also given a photograph of the run-off taken by a local who wished to remain anonymous.

For the latest on the foot and mouth crisis see pages 6 & 7.