"POISONOUS" fluids leaking out of the controversial burial pits at Throckmorton are causing severe health problems, locals claim.

Families living near the pits maintain they are suffering from skin rashes, blisters to the mouth and throat and extreme tiredness since the burial pits were dug.

Two of the residents also claim they are regularly coughing up bright yellow mucus, which they say is a result of the burial pits.

Last week, the Evening News revealed claims by excavator driver Roger Martin, who worked at the pits for nine and a half months.

He insisted lethal effluent was leaking from cells containing the carcases because the chambers had not been sealed.

He added he feared someone could die as toxic fluids released by the rotting animals could reach water systems in the area, because the ground's porosity would allow fluids to travel.

The allegations were denied by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which claimed the site had been given a "clean bill of health" by the Environment Agency.

But villager Joanne Charko rejected Defra's comments, saying she had been suffering with sore eyes, blisters in her mouth and throat, pain in her lungs and a dramatic worsening of her asthma since the pits were filled.

After moving out of Throckmorton a month ago, she said her symptoms had started to clear up.

"Apart from blistering in the mouth and throat, my lungs felt clogged up and I was coughing up horrible yellow fluid," she said.

"My husband and I also felt very lethargic when we lived there, which is not like us.

"It was awful. But since moving away, my illnesses are subsiding and there has been a constant improvement in our condition."

Angie Gregg said the mystery illness had driven her 19-year-old daughter Victoria out of the family home, with her elder daughter Debbie set to follow.

Twenty-three-year-old Debbie has lost two stone since the burials without changing her lifestyle or diet.

"Victoria is now living with my sister because she was getting awful headaches and sore throats while she was living here," she said.

A Defra spokesman said due care had been taken to ensure there were no health or environmental risks and again referred to the Environment Agency giving the site a clean bill of health.

Janet Ferguson, spokeswoman for the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, said it had not been made aware of any increase of illnesses at the village.