Tackling smells from our wastewater treatment works remains a priority and the number of complaints we received fell by more than 20 per cent to 423 during 2010.

Our £750,000 investment programme to tackle smells during 2010-11 included £350,000 to replace equipment at East Worthing Wastewater Treatment Works in Sussex.

We also carried out additional maintenance at treatment works and sludge centres, focusing on those that were the subject of most complaints.

This included £55,000 to install new drains, repair pipes and replace pumps and odour-absorbing material at Peel Common Wastewater Treatment Works in Hampshire.

At our Bexhill and Hastings works in Sussex, we invested nearly £125,000 to refurbish a biofilter, put covers on aeration lanes and replace odour-absorbing material.