Sewage erupts from drain, covering road in faeces

A road in Stoke-on-Trent has been covered with raw sewage after drains erupted following heavy rainfall earlier this week.

Residents said two drains at the end of Paddock Rise at the junction with Longton Road in Trentham were overflowing which caused human faeces to spill out across the road.

They described it as a "biohazard" and added that it posed a significant health risk.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said the blockage was caused by tree roots, and that teams would attend with specialised equipment to resolve the issue.

"While our crew was able to partially relieve the issue during their visit yesterday, they were unable to fully remove tree roots because of the heavy rain and will need return with specialist equipment to complete the job," they said.

"We will be attending site today to carry out further works and a thorough clean-up of the site.

"We understand how unpleasant this experience has been, and we're very sorry for any issues caused."

Warning: This article contains images some viewers may find unpleasant

Local resident Rachel Hughes said the drains began to overflow at about 19:30 GMT on Tuesday.

"The cause seems to be an outdated sewage system," she said.

"I think pipe work damage, probably, tree roots have infiltrated pipes, and also just the pipes aren't large enough for the capacity of houses in the local area."

"It is a little bit concerning. The raw sewage on the roads is a biohazard," she added.

"It's dangerous to people's health."

She said she had seen dog walkers and pedestrians walking through the sewage seemingly without realising the associated danger.

Hughes added she felt Severn Trent ought to better maintain the pipe system and invest in new pipework.

Trees shedding their leaves also appeared to exacerbate the issue.

"The council don't seem to have cleared the roads or the pavements of leaves as much this year as in previous years," she said.

Local MP Allison Gardner said she was aware of the leak and was taking "urgent action".

"I have immediately contacted Severn Trent and the relevant environmental authorities to ensure this issue is escalated and resolved as a matter of priority," she said.

"Severn Trent are investigating the leak, and will jetvac the pipes to clear any blockages.

"Quite frankly, what we are seeing is disgraceful, and I am appalled that my constituents are being subjected to this."

She said she would seek an explanation of how the issue occurred and what would be done to prevent it happening again.

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