Woman at 'breaking point' over garden sewage flood

Hayley Ling said she could smell the sewage in her garden from the kitchen

A resident whose garden has been flooded with sewage since New Year's Eve has said she is "at breaking point".

Hayley Ling said her daughter, who is eight months pregnant, is currently having to stay with her grandmother because of raw sewage in the garden of their home in Newbury, Berkshire.

Ms Ling said she and her partner have to wear wellies to get into the house, and have to clean the sewage off their shoes once inside.

A spokesperson for Thames Water apologised for the "distress" and said clean-ups were being "arranged over the coming days as water levels recede".

Ms Ling, 42, lives in the property with her partner, her daughter and boyfriend, as well as three dogs.

The sewage is in their front and back garden and smells "absolutely rank", Ms Ling said.

Ms Ling said the sewage smelt "absolutely rank"

She said it was a "health and safety issue", and her daughter was staying away as a result.

"My daughter is due to give birth in four weeks," she said.

"We have got all the nursery set up... but she can't come home."

She said her daughter "wants to be settled for the baby", and meeting up with her outside the house "is not the same".

"I'm her support network," she said. "I'm desperate to see her."

Ms Ling said the sewage levels were "getting higher each day" and had recently "spilt over the path".

And, after a spell of dry weather, rain is forecast for Newbury over the weekend.

"What's it going to be like then?" she said.

Ms Ling said the sewage levels were still rising

Ms Ling has been in regular contact with Thames Water, but she said she was told they could not do anything until water levels fall.

A spokesperson said high groundwater was "affecting our sewer system", and that they were monitoring the situation.

"We are sorry to residents for any distress the flooding may have caused and would like to assure them clean ups of the affected areas are being arranged over the coming days as water levels recede," they said.

They added that the sewers would be inspected to identify "maintenance requirements".

In the meantime, Ms Ling said she and her partner had been looking at short-term lets to stay in - but, with three dogs, it was hard.

She has also contacted West Berkshire Council's environmental health department, which advised her pregnant daughter to find temporary accommodation - which she did.

"But why should she have to?" said Ms Ling." This is her home."

The BBC has approached West Berkshire Council for comment.