A Basildon woman has demanded action after being forced to live with overflowing sewage on her doorstep for six years.

Carol Bennett, 43, of the High Road, Basildon, has had to endure years of human waste soiling her front steps and back garden.

She has two drains on her council-owned property - one on the front step which frequently leaks and spills onto the pavement and another in her back garden.

She claims that despite numerous complaints to Basildon Council, the problem is still unresolved. The mother-of-two said: "It is absolutely disgusting and I have now had enough."

According to Mrs Bennett, the drains overflow five or six times a year.

A spokesperson for Basildon Council said: "We are aware of this problem.

"It is a partly collapsed drain. We responded to a call in February 2003 and found her drain had collapsed.

"The same problem has occurred again. There is someone repairing it now."

Published Monday January 19, 2004

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