A family was left with a flooded garden because of a dispute between two water boards.

Philip and Dawn Humphreys, of Blixes Farm, Ranks Green, near Witham, contacted Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water in a bid to get their "pond-like" garden drained.

But both companies claimed the flooding - which stemmed from a problem close to a hydrant - was not their fault.

Now Anglian Water has accepted responsibility for the problem - which started on Christmas Eve - and was due to carry out repairs today.

Mrs Humphreys said: "Anglian Water claimed it was just surface water, then said it wasn't their responsibility. We called Essex and Suffolk and they said Anglian Water were to blame.

"It really is very annoying because you don't expect problems like this. We just can't understand why it's taken so long to put right.

"I thought we were supposed to be saving water, not letting it run away. The irony is that there'll probably be a hosepipe ban in the summer."

Mum-of-two Mrs Humphreys said the water was up to two inches deep in places and covered an area of of her garden approximately three metres by two metres.

She added the problem was made worse by the fact water also covered a stretch of the adjoining lane, freezing over on icy mornings.

A spokesman for Anglian Water said the delay was caused by the fact his company had to apply for county council permission to close the lane while repairs were carried out.

He apologised and added: "When we are working in an area near to a boundary between two water boards it is not always black and white who is responsible."

Vanessa Hart, communications officer for Essex and Suffolk Water, added: "Responsibility for water supply and sewerage in this area lies with Anglian Water."

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