8:00am Thursday 9th July 2009
By Tom Moseley
RAW sewage spilled into properties and near to a river after a drain flooded at the rear of houses in a storm.
The Environment Agency is now investigating the incident that saw the untreated waste affect houses in Branch Road, Lower Darwen.
Residents have hit out at United Utilities and are blaming a blocked sewage pipe behind their homes for the flood.
Experts at United Utilities said that it did not appear that there was any pollution into the River Darwen although residents reported seeing waste entering the water.
The company said investigations were taking place into the state of the pipes.
Stephen Bromilow, 54, who lives in Branch Road, said he and his wife Marilyn, 57, had been left sickened after the sewage flowed up through a drain in their back yard.
He said that around six inches of filth spilled up into his and his neighbour’s yards and flowed into the nearby river.
Around 10 homes in the block were affected.
Mr Bromilow, a retired police officer, said: “It has been horrendous. The mess that has been left is awful.
“There is a real issue here because there is obviously a blockage in the main sewer pipe and that is why it has flooded. There was a previous incident in February.”
A spokesman for United Utilities said: “We know that it is a very unpleasant experience.
"It would appear that the flood was caused by heavy rains but investigations are now taking place and a camera has been put into the pipe to discover if there is any blockage.”
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said an officer went to examine the scene yesterday and he was set to compile a report.
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