Cockle pickers said the problems had not happened before

Councillors say they are fielding calls from residents upset with the stench that has hit the town during the week.

Officials say soaring temperatures in the area are to blame and it is a naturally occurring phenomenon.

Cockle gathers are not convinced and believe pollution may also play part as they say there are no such problems at other beds in west Wales.

You are talking about whole football fields of cockles dying in front of our eyes Glyn Hyndman

Councillor Bill Thomas said the strong fish-like smell had been in the air for at least a week.

"My phone has not stopped ringing with people complaining," he said.

"They say it is natural but they are not having these smells at Laughaurne, Llansteffan or Ferryside.

"There are tonnes of empty shells on the beds and something is causing them to come to the surface that's not natural."

Cockler Glyn Hyndman said: "This time of year you get a bit of shell on the beach but we know what that look likes but we have not seen this before - you are talking about whole football fields of cockles dying in front of our eyes.

High temperatures

"We don't know what the cause of it is. We've had a successful industry here for hundreds of years but have never seen anything like this happen."

Carmarthenshire Council's head of public protection Philip Davies said because of the sun the cockles were literally cooking on the beach and then dying leaving a stench.

"We sample the cockle beds on a regular basis and all the tests have shown the cockles are meeting EU standards," he said.

"The high death rate among the cockles is perfectly natural because of the high temperatures, lower water levels and the large numbers in certain areas of the inlet.