Millions of old tyres will be recycled at a new 'state of the art' plant in Stoke-on-Trent.

Councillors have approved plans for the facility next to the existing Michelin factory in Campbell Road.

Murfitts Industries, the company behind the proposals, says the plant will create a 'vital synergy' with the Michelin site by processing end-of-life tyres which are unsuitable for retreading.

Planning committee members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council were told that the facility would create around 25 jobs on the old E.on site, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number of tyres going to landfill or incinerators.

Some local residents have raised concerns over issues such as noise, odour and air quality. But Martin Hopkins, from Murffits Industries, told the committee the plant will require operating permits and be regulated by the Environment Agency.

He said air quality assessments demonstrated that emissions from the site would have a 'negligible impact'.

Robert Gandy, agent for the applicants, said: "The development represents a major capital investment in Stoke-on-Trent's industrial infrastructure, and establishes the city as a leader in cutting-edge green innovation and domestic recycling resilience.

"The facility will transform waste into a strategic resource, enhance the resilience of the Michelin plant, and serve as a flagship project for Stoke-on-Trent's transition to a low carbon industrial powerhouse.

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"This is a sustainable investment in the city's future delivering economic growth and high value jobs, supports a major local employer and solves an environmental waste challenge."

The plant will include a crumbing facility which will shred tyres into rubber crumb, and an adjacent pyrolysis building, which will process the crumb into carbon black, oil and steam. Both facilities will operate around the clock, processing 35,000 tonnes of tyres a year.

The pyrolysis building will include a 25-metre flue, but the committee was told that this would only have a limited visual impact, while sound from the plant would not be above ambient noise in the area.

Mr Hopkins said Murfitts Industries would put a public engagement plan in place to deal with any issues with the local community.

Committee member and ward councillor for Trent Vale and Oak Hill Waseem Akbar still had concerns over the impact on nearby schools and homes.

He said: "As a councillor and a resident who lives near this scheme, I think the facility will negatively affect nearby homes and residents' quality of life due to noise and emissions. Even with regulation residents worry about air quality and health risks associated with emissions from the facility."

But most committee members were satisified with the assurances they were given and voted to approve the applications for both parts of the plant, in line with their officers' recommendation.

Councillor Ross Irving said: "I think the report is pretty clear that the applicants appear to have covered all the issues that would be raised by the public.

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"The public have every right to be concerned because over the years there have been quite difficult issues surrounding the Michelin site.

"So I welcome the public consultation. Misinformation can circulate faster than anything else, so it's good that you'll be able to put your case directly to residents to reassure them."