'REVOLTING' raw sewage seeped towards homes and caused problems for dog walkers after a huge deluge of rain caused a manhole to burst.

Dirty water began flowing from the hole on Mill Street, Brightlingsea, after the downpours on Wednesday and Thursday but Anglian Water engineers were unable to come out to stop the heavy leakage immediately.

Elizabeth Whittaker lives nearby and has seen the sewage run right up to the edge of her house and was furious at the delay in getting things fixed.

She said: "Anglian Water are saying they cannot come out yet and they were called several times on Thursday when it happened.

"We are being told the problem is being caused by sometime in a nearby road but the contractors do not have the right equipment to put it right.

"You would think a raw sewage leak would be a bit higher on their priority list.

"It happened before about two years ago and I think it is because this is the last manhole on the system and it is down to the heavy rain.

"I don't think any water has got into our house yet but it is running into the brick work.

"The cover is surrounded by paved brickwork but at one point you could see it had lifted by several inches with the water coming out.

"Anglian Water did apologise and say they would call us as soon as they had any more information on what was happening."

Mrs Whittaker said the foul-smelling problem was disgusting and problems for people living and walking nearby.

She said: "It is revolting.

"There are a lot of children who live on this road and it is a popular route for dog walkers because of how close it is to the creek so it is not nice for them."