DISGRUNTLED neighbours say they were fobbed off Thames Water after reporting sewage pouring into their gardens.

The waste was coming out of drains in the gardens in Cricklade Road, made worse by heavy rain last weekend.

And the angry neighbours have criticised Thames Water for a lack of action, despite being told someone was going to sort the problem.

Emma Hatfield, 45, said her neighbour first phoned the water company on October 1 and was told someone would be over within 24 hours.

As of October 7 no-one arrived despite multiple calls from different neighbours.

She said: “Our drains run into the main sewer and it’s been backing up and eventually blew the manhole off.

“But at 6am on Saturday it was just below my manhole cover and I thought it was going to go over.

“I ran the tap and the shower was gurgling so I phoned Thames Water and they told me they’d send someone out within 24 hours. That’s what they told my neighbour on Thursday and no-one came.

“It’s not good enough. I tried their online support but no-one replied.”

Emma, who lives with her husband Leslie, is concerned about her health as she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and is being treated with a drug that lowers her immune system.

She says sewage water has been coming out of her shower drain whenever she flushes her downstairs toilet.

Emma explained: “I’ve had black water coming out of my shower. I don’t know whose poo is coming out.

“I can see in the plughole there are bits coming up when I flush the toilet.

“I was really worried, I said all this to Thames Water but still nothing.”

Thames Water has said the flooding is due to a collapsed drain and that tankers have been pumping out the water.

A spokesman said: “We know this must be a horrible situation to deal with, and we’ve got tankers at the scene twice a day pumping wastewater from the broken pipe to prevent further flooding to homes and gardens.

“Our resources have been stretched by Storm Alex, but we’re working hard to get the repair booked in and completed as quickly as possible.”