... and water company cannot help

HOMEOWNERS in Wyton also face an anxious wait each time the heavens open. Like their counterparts in St Ives, the residents of similarly named Warren Close say that the heavy rain brings the threat of their drains overflowing and sewage spilling into thei

HOMEOWNERS in Wyton also face an anxious wait each time the heavens open.

Like their counterparts in St Ives, the residents of similarly named Warren Close say that the heavy rain brings the threat of their drains overflowing and sewage spilling into their gardens.

Joan Basford, a resident of Warren Close, told The Hunts Post all she can do is "cross her fingers" and hope the sewage does not end up in her garden.

She said for six days at the end of January she was unable to flush her downstairs toilet because it was almost full to the brim with dirty, brown water.

Although the water level went down a few days later, Mrs Basford said it is a reoccurring problem and has affected a number of houses in Warren Close.

She added that when she contacted Anglian Water, the company said it could not help.

"I am getting pretty close to throwing all my toys out of the pram," said Mrs Basford, who has lived in Wyton for 16 years. "The situation with the drains is causing me unnecessary stress and it is quite unacceptable."

Anglian Water confirmed that last year its workers visited homes in Warren Close and pumped out the drains. However, a spokesman said that the sewage system in Warren Close had not been adopted by the company.

"We are aware of the issues in Warren Close and all our assets in that area are working correctly," she said. "However, some drains have been deluged because of high river levels and heavy rainfall, which we are not responsible for controlling.

"We are very sympathetic with people in Warren Close and last year we did help them, but our climate is changing and we have to make difficult decisions about what we can and can't do.