RESIDENTS have hit out at problems that ‘continuously’ leave their homes flooded with sewage.

Problems in Spring Street, Rishton, have seen several floods according to residents.

Now Hyndburn Mayor Paul Barton has taken up their fight.

He said it is a ‘disgrace’ that the situation has not been resolved.

Coun Barton said he has been left knee-deep in the sewage, wearing his mayoral robes, on occasions as he tried to help people in the street.

A property he owns is among 16 of those affected in the area.

He said: “There have been problems here for years but not enough has been done to improve the situation.

“The sewers just do not have enough capacity and because the homes are at the bottom of a hill, every time there is a bit of rain, even just five minutes, there is sewage coming up through the drains out-side as well as the toilets and sinks indoors.

“Recently the manhole cover in the street was blown 30-feet in the air because the pressure from the sewage was so great.

“Most of the homes are unliveable. Every time there is a really bad flood you have to replace all of the carpets, plaster and furniture.

“Every time it rains you fear the worst.”

Resident Chrissy Hogg, 23, of Spring Street, said: “Every time this happens it is appalling.

"It stinks and cannot be allowed to come into the property.”

Shaun Robinson, of United Utilities, said it was being investigated.

He said: “As part of our plans for 2010-2015 we aim to halve the number of incidents of flooding of homes from overloaded sewers in the North West as part of our proposed £3.7 billion investment.”