A PENSIONER who suffers from chronic lung damage is pushing for a Runcorn factory which leaks diesel fumes to shut down.

Kenneth Egerton, 69, who is hooked up to an oxygen machine, says his condition has been made worse by the daily emission of fumes clogging up his Weston Point home.

Roadstone-coating plant Aram Resources, near the Run-corn docks, has had to draft in consultants after admitting a problem with a chimney fuelled up by a diesel-fired furnace.

Manager Peter Adamson has now been forced to take action, after council bosses piled on the pressure at two consecutive meetings which led to a full burner inspection of the site.

The move is expected to appease scores of unhappy residents in the Weston area, who were threatening to petition.

Mr Egerton said: 'I have a damaged lung and heart, and I'm also on oxygen.

'I first noticed the diesel fumes as they were coming in through the oxygen machine and through the pumps - and it forced me to take my mask off it got that bad.

'I first noticed the smells getting worse six months ago, but some residents are saying they've noticed it going back as far as two years.' He added: 'At first I thought it was paraffin, it was such a strong burning smell. I think it's absolutely disgusting this has been allowed to happen and the factory should be made to close.

'Why the council allows people to be housed in such dense, industrial areas in the first place I just don't know.

'A couple of years ago we had an incident where a factory was burning rubber, and there were hundreds of complaints about that.'

Another resident of Crofton Road, Tony Steele, voiced fears that the factory could pose alleged health risks.

However, such claims have been categorically denied by Mr Adamson, who said everything possible is now being done to minimise the problem - including the installation of a new oil flow device.

A spokesperson for Halton council said: 'Residents may continue to experience a slight odour for a short period of time while the system corrects itself.

'Following this, all parties involved are confident there should no longer be a problem.'