Some residents of Stonington say the smell of decaying algae along the shoreline is forcing them from their homes.

Town officials acknowledge the problem, which is centered between two jetties at the end of Ash Street, an area with little tidal flushing and thick with seaweed.

Resident Geoffrey Little tells The Day of New London he and his neighbors have suffered headaches and irritated throats and eyes, and have to leave home when the smell, which is similar to rotting eggs, becomes overwhelming.

Borough Warden Paul Burgess says town authorities are working with state environmental officials and locally based Clean up Harbors and Sound in an effort to solve the problem.

He says that 20 truckloads of seaweed were removed last summer from the area after similar reports. (AP)