Legal action is being taken against landowners responsible for a sickening stench over large swathes of west Fife at the weekend.
Fife Council has confirmed it will slap a notice on the owners of a site at Muir Dean near Crossgates, in a bid to prevent any repeat of the problem.
The move follows an investigation prompted by a flood of complaints about the putrid pong, caused by 1,000 tonnes of limed distillery waste being spread on fields last Wednesday and Thursday.
The stink was branded vile, horrible and nasty, with many people complaining it had actually made them vomit.
Householders in and around Dunfermline were unable to enjoy the weather over the holiday weekend or even open their doors and windows because of the odour.
The council said it was continuing to investigate the stench affecting the area.
Lead environmental health officer Don Taylor said: “Due to the smell, and following initial investigations, formal action will be taken by the council to avoid this happening again at Muir Dean.
“This will involve serving a legal notice on the landowner requiring that this problem does not happen again.
“The council has been assured that no further limed distillery cake will be spread at this site.”
Mr Taylor said the waste was a by-product of the distilling process and not, as some had reported, animal or human waste.
“The waste is very odorous and this has been further heightened by the hot weather and the wind blowing directly towards a large area of housing,” he said.
“Unfortunately, once spreading has occurred and a problem smell created, there is very little that can be done to stop it.”
The legal action has been welcomed by mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Alex Rowley, who described the stink as “completely vile”.
“If the landowner is found to have broken laws then I think the council should take action,” he said.
“It was seriously vile, horrible, nasty and folk were telling me it made them feel physically sick.
“This must never be allowed to happen again.”
