Anglian Water's £7m bill to clear sewers of foreign objects

False teeth and mobile phones were among the most common objects removed by Anglian Water

A regional water company has revealed it spends £7m a year clearing toys, false teeth and disposable wipes from its sewers.

Anglian Water said its treatment plants have to remove about a tonne of waste a day.

The firm said it had to pass the cost on to customers.

Its message was that only excrement and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet and wipes should be put in the bin.

Toy figures, including Woody from Toy Story and Bart Simpson, were found at the Lowestoft treatment plant

Anglian Water said it cost £7m a year to clear foreign objects from its sewer network

Disposable wipes have to be removed from the system by hand and then compacted

Golf balls and hair curlers were also regular finds at the treatment plant

The items pictured were all found at the Lowestoft treatment plant at Ness Point in the Suffolk town

Emma Staple, spokeswoman for Anglian Water Services, said: "All that should go down is poo, pee and paper, but the main problem by a long stretch is disposable wipes which people put down the toilet instead of in the bin.

"It costs around £7m to clear all these things out of the sewage network.

"That does reflect in customers' bills and it's money that would be better spent elsewhere."