Frustrated villagers are pleading for action to be taken to stop their gardens being flooded by sewage.

Residents in Homestead Road in Ramsden Bellhouse have seen their road flooded three times so far this year with sewage ending up floating onto their lawns and flowerbeds.

Ramsden Bellhouse Parish Council is looking to tackle the issue and discussed the problem at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Parish councillor Len Ferris, who is also a resident of Homestead Road, feels action needs to be taken.

He said: "I have already written to Basildon District Council as this is a serious health issue. You cannot have raw sewage floating around in the street.

"I am not sure whether something needs to be adjusted on the relief sewer or we need a new system put in, but something needs to be done."

Basildon Council has insisted that the problem is Anglian Water's responsibility and a spokesman for the water company said: "We are aware of the problem and we have a scheme in hand to try and relieve the situation.

"A bit further down the system at Ramsden Park Road the sewer splits in two and water can go either way.

"We are going to re-enforce that division to make sure the right amount of water goes each way."

Mr Ferris feels the flooding problem has emerged due to the number of houses which have been built in the area and the increasing pressure on the sewage system.

He said: "Now whenever there is heavy rain the sewer which runs down the centre of our road backs up and sewage floods out into the street."

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