"A RIVER of raw sewage" is how a dance teacher described an unwanted water feature in her garden after a sewer leak left foul-smelling fluid floating through her flower beds.
Nina Edwards, 31, and Chris Head, 52, were hoping to enjoy the sunny weather last weekend at their home in Western Road, Brentwood, but on Saturday night a leaking manhole put paid to their plans.
To make matters worse the couple say they were left unsure where to turn when water companies continually "passed the buck" and left the sewage to fester for 48 hours.
Miss Edwards says her frustrations peaked when employees of Thames Water and Anglian Water showed her contrasting maps putting the property outside of their patch.
"It was just raw sewage – toilet tissue and tampons – floating past our back door on to our patio," she said.
"The whole time they kept passing the buck while the sewage by the side of my house was getting worse."
Thames Water eventually agreed to clear the raw sewage and disinfect the patio, yet the sewer itself remains damaged with the waste being pumped away from residents' homes by a tanker.
"When they were clearing up the mess a lady from Thames drove past and noticed the trucks outside our house.
"The first thing she said to them was 'you guys shouldn't be working here' – right in front of me.
"So it's been cleared up but the job hasn't actually been completed. The blockage is still there.
"We've heard so many different stories I don't know what to believe from either company. The job keeps bouncing back between them."
A spokesman for Anglian Water apologised for the confusion and said: "Although people living in Western Road are Thames Water customers, the blockage that caused this problem is in the sewer under Ongar Road which is owned by us.
"The pipe under Ongar Road has become blocked by a build-up of fat as a result of people pouring fat and oil from cooking into the drains.
"We are working to clear the pipe and will put it on to a regular programme of jetting to try and prevent this happening again."
A spokesman for Thames Water added: "We are sorry for any confusion that was caused and will be working with Anglian Water to get this problem sorted."
