A COUPLE who live next to a small-holding where pigs are kept are kicking up a stink about smells and what they claim is the destruction of a valuable wildlife habitat.

John and Carol Marrow say the character of the land next to The Lots, at Eden Mount in Grange-over-Sands, has changed since local butcher Stuart Higginson started keeping pigs on the site.

Mr Higginson, who recently featured in The Westmorland Gazette with 12 orphaned British Saddleback piglets that he was caring for, classes himself as a hobby farmer.

Mr and Mrs Marrow claim the piggery is causing "disgusting smells and other nuisance" and the pigs have turned a valuable wildlife habitat into a quagmire. They are launching a campaign to get Mr Higginson's pigs off The Lots.

Mr Marrow said that even before the orphans arrived, there were between ten and 15 pigs on the field and sometimes there were more than 20.

"When they are all grazing next to your garden the smell is pretty bad," he said.

"He (Mr Higginson) claims it's a hobby but it is definitely a business he sells the stuff in his shop."

The couple have contacted South Lakeland District Council and plan to approach wildlife watchdog English Nature about the "devastating" impact they claim the piggery is having on land in a conservation area. They also plan to write to around 60 neighbours to rally support.

"We just want to stop it before it gets any worse," said Mrs Marrow.

Mr Higginson, however, said: "I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.

"I understand their concerns. I wouldn't like to live next door to a big pig breeding unit, but that is not what this is," he said. "This is a hobby, not a business."

He said there was no odour nuisance. "If there was I would see to it," he said.

SLDC spokeswoman Sheila Meades confirmed the council had received a complaint about "odour nuisance" at The Lots. She said an officer had visited the site and concluded that there was no nuisance problem at the moment.

"We have notified Mr Higginson that a complaint has been received and said that any increase in the number or relocation of the pigs is likely to result in odour and potentially noise nuisance," she said.

A planning officer has also advised that there has been no breach of planning regulations.