A pensioner told how her garden had been left resembling a bomb site after a sewage pipe exploded.

What a mess - repair work gets under way in Rita Kirkham's back garden. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN

Rita Kirkham, 60 of Crossways, Jaywick, said she was woken from her sleep at 4.30am.

"There was this huge explosion and I thought my roof had been blown off," she said.

"I could hear all this running water. It sounded like there was some sort of storm. When I looked out of the window, the water was up to my door."

Mrs Kirkham said Anglian Water had men working there since December 29, when the pipe broke.

She said the company had taken full responsibility and promised to put her garden back to its original state after it had carried out repairs.

A spokeswoman for Anglian Water said it was hoped that would finish by the end of the week.

Published Friday January 9, 2004

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