The £6 million expansion of a pet food factory has been stalled amid concerns over an unpleasant smell.

Members of Denbighshire County Council's (DCC) planning committee unanimously agreed to defer plans for the Real Petfood Company - based on the old Hotpoint site at Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan - to add office facilities to their factory until the issue is brought under control.

Speaking at the meeting at Council Chamber at the County Hall in Ruthin, planning committee member cllr Brian Jones said: “ There was going to be some action taken to remove the problem, but for whatever reason it isn’t as simple as it sounds and the problem hasn't been resolved.

“There is an issue with dust, apparently, that goes into’ the atmosphere and that gets into your tract when you’re breathing. You’re being contaminated with pet food.

“It wouldn’t be the correct thing to do to grant them the application whilst they haven’t taken care of the issues with the odour of the existing plant and process they have at the moment."

The decision is a set back for Real Petfood Company, which opened in July last year and produces dry biscuits and baked semi-moist treats for Yorkshire based parent company Inspired Pet Nutrition, which manufactures the Wagg and Harrington brands.

The Real Petfood Company 70 members of staff at the site, exceeding its initial plans to add 20 jobs in two years to its original 30 strong team since opening last July.

The development, which is near to Coronation Close on the western boundary of the site, and Artillery Row and Park Avenue to the north, is also in the process of gaining planning consent for an additional wet food factory on the site - expected to add a further 40 jobs by 2020.

Speaking to The Journal after the meeting, cllr Jones said: It's not a health threat and there is no big stand off between the council and Real Petfood Company. I understand they are looking at solutions, and while they're not trying to build a rocketship it does take time and has to be cost effective.

"But the smell, rather than the dust, is affected by the wind direction at certain times leading to residents getting an unpleasant odour."

Plans submitted to the planning committee were unrelated to the production of the food, and included a two storey extension on the north side of an existing factory building which would add facilities for staff including a canteen and locker rooms, three offices, a board room and a laboratory.

A spokesman for The real Petfood Co responded: "Whilst it is clear that there have been issues raised by the local community relating to odours from the factory, provision of this office extension has zero impact on the Odour issue.

The office extension is about creating more employment opportunities.

As a local employer, The Real Petfood Company is committed to overcoming the odour concerns that from time to time arise, weather dependent.

We are taking robust action to alleviate the situation.

In response to complaints, The Real Petfood Company are understood to have already appointed an air quality specialist who has designed a suitable system to tackle odour issues.