'Monster' fatberg removed from major sewer

The fatberg cleared from a sewer in Horsham weighed 50kg

A "monster" fatberg has been cleared from a West Sussex sewer.

Southern Water says the 50kg (110lbs) blockage was found in a major sewer in Horsham.

Teams used heavy jets and other equipment to remove the build-up of waste materials.

Roger Williams, Sussex area sewer network manager, said: "We arrived just in time to destroy this monster."

Southern Water said the fatberg could have "led manholes to overflow, homes and businesses to flood or even to pollution in nearby water courses".

The water company said it dealt with up to 50,000 blockages a year.

A fatberg is a rock-like mass of waste matter in a sewer system formed by non-biodegradable solids and fat and oil.

Mr Williams said: “Sewer blockages caused by wet wipes and other unflushables, like sanitary products and nappies, combined with fat, oil and grease, are all too common.

“Fatbergs are the number one cause of pollution in our area."

Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

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