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Plans to break down almost 8,000 tonnes of tyres a year at a new plant have sparked pollution concerns from residents.

Tyregen UK Ltd wants to recycle waste tyres at the plant in Swansea to create carbon black, which would be re-used in new tyres.

Gowerton councillor Susan Jones said people had contacted her about the proposed installation and that "all are against".

Swansea council is considering a permit application from the company, but permission is already in place to process waste tyres and plastics at the site.

To separate the oil and black powder which goes into the tyres manufacture, Tyregen UK Ltd said it will use a process called pyrolysis, which is incineration without oxygen.

The proposed plans are to break down about 7,650 tonnes of tyres a year.

Tyregen UK Ltd said some of the gas captured as part of the process would be reused at the plant at Westfield Industrial Estate in Waunarlwydd, with the remainder treated before being released into the atmosphere via a chimney stack.

Waunarlwydd councillor Wendy Lewis said: "We are a city who pride ourselves on pollution control and this would be hideous for us in Waunarlwydd."

She said the proposed unit would be near a nursing home, school and an accommodation complex for older people, and feared people would be stuck indoors for days in the event of a fire.

Gowerton resident Val Higgon said the area already experienced significant traffic congestion and that more and more new homes were being built.

She said: "We cannot afford to allow any more pollutants in this area."

Tyregren UK Ltd said the operation was "fundamentally about recycling" and "preserving the valuable components of a used tyre".

It added tyre industry was committed to using more recycled material in new tyres and that the proposal would, if given the go-ahead, create jobs in the area.

Swansea council will make a decision within three months of the consultation's end on 2 October.