IT has set chins wagging and led to noses being held. The pong afflicting areas across Oxfordshire has been the talk of the city and beyond.

But after all the theories and jokes, the number of possible sources is being narrowed down.

And now the city council and South Oxfordshire District Council are getting their best people on the job.

While nobody envies their task, it means we might finally get an answer to the question on everyone’s lips – what is that awful smell?