A HORWICH resident has reported smelling a strange, gas-like odour near his house.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said the smell, which engulfed his home near Claypool Road in Horwich for about two days was “very strong”.

He added: “We first smelled it over the weekend and it stayed for a couple of days, it was a hell of a smell.”

National Grid has confirmed it received more than 1,000 reports of a gas smell across the North West and the East and West Midlands early this week.

A spokesman said: “At the moment we do not know what has caused the smell and the Environment Agency is investigating — we would urge anyone who smells gas to report it to us immediately.”