Flood forces couple to use temporary loo in garden

Roger Sell and Janet Hewlett have to ask neighbours for help with laundry due to the drainage problem

A couple has been forced to use a portable toilet in their garden after a series of heavy rainfalls led to their drains being blocked.

Roger Sell and his fiancée Janet Hewlett said they have had no working drainage due to flooding at their Grade II listed thatched cottage in Marden, Herefordshire, since December.

The retired couple said Herefordshire Council has “given up” on the drainage problem and the drains were so full of silt and mud that they have to ask neighbours to wash their clothes.

The local authority said the issue was caused by “one of the wettest winters in decades” and added its teams were working with residents who were affected.

The couple has lived in the Grade II cottage for 25 years but said the problem started three years ago

Having lived in the cottage - which dates back to the 16th Century - for more than 25 years, the couple said the problems started about three years ago and had since worsened.

“It’s constantly depressing, it’s not good for mental health," Ms Hewlett told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"There are many times when I’m very miserable and could cry.

“We have a lovely house but we can’t tip the water away, we have to ask people to do our washing, we have to be economical with what we wear and wear the same thing all week."

Mr Sell added: “I get fed up this is going to be the same, year after year unless the drainage pipework is refitted or renewed.

“This affects the villagers as well, they have to drive through the water every winter or every time we have a deluge.”

• Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

The council said significant wet weather was to blame for the problem

Herefordshire Council said significant wet weather had led to land and watercourses struggling to absorb rainfall at times, leading to flooding and blocked drains.

A council spokesperson added: “We have carried out work on the highway drainage system in the Marden area, however it’s identified that further work is needed to make longer-term improvements.

"This work is currently being planned.”