A mystery stink that was causing nuisance around housing estates has finally been solved after residents complained about a "cheesy feet" pong.
Locals in Birmingham and the Black Country were desperately shutting their windows in an attempt to keep the nasty stench at bay on Tuesday night.
Tracey Cooper said the air "smelt like dog muck" while another likened it to "vomit".
Birmingham City Council has now released a statement following an investigation to put everyone's mind at ease.
After speaking to neighbouring authorities, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Environment Agency, the cause of the putrid pong appeared to be muck spreading, BirminghamLive reports.
"We are aware of reports from across Birmingham and beyond of a pungent odour earlier this week," a council spokesperson said.
"Officers have spoken to colleagues in neighbouring local authorities, the UKHSA and the Environment Agency.
"The prevailing view, given the time of year, is that it may well be due to land spreading as farmers have been harvesting their crops and are now busy clearing their manure/slurry stores and fertilising their fields for the winter crops.
"Similar instances near Walsall were reported to the Environment Agency a few weeks ago. Although Birmingham is a city area, there are still farms surrounding it and recent weather has been more overcast and humid, which might mean odours from sources in the area are either not dispersing as quickly or hanging around for longer."
The statement put to bed end the endless theories from residents as to exactly what was causing the smell which stretched across most of the city and as far as Redditch and Tamworth.
Jeanette Owen said it "smelt like manure in Billesley” while sewerage was another common theory.
Sam Taylor, meanwhile, added: “I thought it was me so I went in Boots and put on loads of perfumes and even aftershaves but the smell was still there. So glad now it was not me after all!"
Before realising the issue, residents in Bromford and Firs in the Castle Bromwich area were posting on their neighbourhood’s Facebook page.
Rebecca Sullivan said: “Does anybody know wht this stinking smell is all over the area smelt it from town.”
Mel Waite added: “Same over on Vale.”
Kate Rose said: “My house stinks. Vile isn’t it".
While Rebecca replied: “It's disgusting I've got candles burning everywhere lol”. Tammy Hill has had to seal her home and said: “I had to shut my windows and balcony door was making me heave absolutely stinks.”
