FLOOD-HIT householders are taking matters into their own hands to stop sewage getting into their homes.

The drainage system struggles to cope with sudden deluges of heavy rain so waste bubbles up out of drains and into nearby homes in Highworth.

The Adver first reported on this following flooding in August on St Michael’s Avenue and Barra Close, then other affected neighbours like Mike Mulford of Bute Close got in touch.

The 78-year-old says the problem has happened for the four decades he has lived in Highworth. Now he has cut a channel through his garden so that the water flows out of it without causing a mess.

He said: “I shouldn’t have to do that at all, the blockage is not my fault. My drive and garage flood with sewage water due to the main sewage pipes backing up during storms.

“The water lifts the manhole in my back garden and I have no choice but to channel it out on to St Michael's Avenue like a river. My neighbour has similar problems.

“It has happened three times this month alone. Hopefully things will change, it’s long overdue.”

Following the first round of complaints, Highworth councillors agreed to write to Thames Water earlier this month.

Coun Ken Saunders said: “I’ve had a number of complaints from around the town about the state of our infrastructure and it being inadequate to deal with what we have now.

“There’s a large number of people that were flooded, had sewage in their houses or in their gardens and the town council offices got flooded out.

“I felt that we needed to try to get the infrastructure issues sorted out before we went any further with planning permissions.”

Coun Penny said: “I have had the gully cleaning men out several times before and after the floods that we have had. If you know of any gulleys that haven’t been cleaned, then please call it in because all the ones we knew about have been cleaned.

“The council and myself are consulting with Thames Water about the recent inability of the pipes to cope with the rain.”

Thames Water previously told the Adver: “We’re going to reconfigure a section of the sewer network to help rainwater flow away quickly, which will reduce the risk of further flooding."

A spokeswoman added: "We’ve agreed a plan with the highways dept and a private landowner to all carry out some maintenance on the surface water drains serving Barra Close to help alleviate flooding."