Sewage bubbled up along roads as flood water could not drain away

VILLAGERS have told how they faced raw sewage running down their streets over Christmas caused by flooding in the area.

Heavy rain meant drains were unable to cope with the excess water causing sewage to seep into the already flooded area.

The aptly named Duck Street and Fishponds Lane were the main roads affected as well as Main Street.

Now, the chairman of Egginton Parish Council, Lisa Brown, is calling for more to be done to ensure the problem never happens in the area again.

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Mrs Brown said: "We have had a horrendous Christmas period in Egginton.

"The surface water would not drain so we had sewer water bubbling up.

"People were worried about their properties and I've personally had our depot opened so people could be supplied with sandbags to protect their properties.

"We have had drainage problems in Egginton before but never to this extent. We never expected anything as bad as this."

Mrs Brown said the latest problems began on December 21.

She said: "I have been on the phone to Severn Trent throughout the Christmas period. I've been calling five or six times even on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

"I was concerned because it was very serious health hazard with the sewage.

"When the help arrived they came and stuck at it. It was effective."

A spokesperson from Severn Trent Water said: "Our engineers have been out to check how our assets are coping with the flood water in Egginton over the Christmas period.

"We would like to reassure our customers that none of our assets have failed but, unfortunately, the sewer system just cannot cope with the sheer volumes of rainfall the area has seen over the last week.

"However, our pumping station is still working as it should.

"We are now waiting for the floodwater to subside. Once it has, we will do a full inspection of our assets and complete any clean up work that is necessary."

Last night villagers said the floodwater drained away and the roads had re-opened.

But Mrs Brown said she would be referring the matter to OFWAT - the Water Services Regulation Authority and she had made contact with local MP Heather Wheeler and the Environment Agency about the matter.

Last night, Wilne Road in Draycott was closed in both directions between the Market Street junction and the Repton Road due to flooding.

And also Sawley Road in Draycott was closed in both directions between the A6005 Draycott Road junction and the Wilne Lane junction.

But despite spells of heavy rain, Met Office weather forecaster Charles Powell said today would begin with wet and windy weather but would see drier spells around midday.

He said: "Sunday will be a drier day but it will be rather cloudy and there will be a south-westerly wind."

He said New Year's Eve will be dry but temperatures into New Year's Day will drop to around two degrees.