A probe has been launched into a “very pungent” smell at a building site after parents raised fears it could be unsafe for children.

Piling work at the construction site at 62-64 Wallis Road in Hackney Wick has been halted and environmental health officers are investigating over local concerns about chemical odours.

The site is part of wider redevelopment around Hackney Wick station as housing provider Notting Hill Genesis builds new homes and offices.  

One mum, Lisa Huxley-Blythe, told the BBC that lots of parents are concerned about the “pungent” smell.

The 43-year-old, whose children attend nearby Mossbourne Riverside Academy, said: "Is it safe for the kids to breathe it in? Should the work be carrying on while the kids are at school?"

Hackney Council has said it met representatives from Ardmore Construction, the contractor appointed by Notting Hill Genesis to carry out works, last week.

The authority said that air quality testing is currently being carried out, and that the results will be provided to London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which holds planning and enforcement authority over the site.

LLDC has said tests conducted have so far found “no signs of hazardous materials”.

A spokesperson for the planning authority said that it was still taking the concerns “seriously” and that a system to reduce odours from the site has been installed.

Hackney Council described this as an “odour suppressant system”, claiming it could not eliminate odours but could help “dampen the effect”.

A spokesperson for Notting Hill Genesis said: “We will continue to work with Ardmore on their engagement with the local community so all stakeholders are fully informed of the work taking place and the measures being employed to ensure safety for staff, residents and businesses alike.”

Ardmore Construction has not responded to a request for comment.