Lancing sewage leak: Southern Water pledges compensation

The road near the seafront was flooded with the sewage

Compensation is to be offered to residents of an estate which has been hit with multiple sewage leaks.

People in the West Beach estate, Lancing, say pipes have burst four times in eight weeks. Southern Water conceded there were "ongoing issues".

The firm said repairs following the latest leak on Wednesday have been completed.

Some residents are refusing to pay their water bills, but the firm has advised people against such action.

A spokesman for the firm said: "We fully appreciate the frustration this is causing people and understand the strength of feelings that are driving customers to consider non-payment of bills.

"However, we urge them to express concerns with us directly so that we can liaise with them on the matter. If customers fail to pay their bills there can be an impact on their Credit File."

Southern Water pledged to visit people affected by the leak, repair any damaged properties and offer compensation.

On-site tankers and traffic management on the A259 will be removed on Friday afternoon, and the immediate area will undergo a clean.

A clean-up of the wider area will be carried out after Christmas, the water company said.

Southern Water said the stretch of pipe would be checked

The problem pipe is more than a mile long (1.7km), and must be completely replaced.

"There isn't a quick or easy solution", the spokesman said, and it requires time for surveying, design and planning.

In the meantime, the firm will line the main to improve its integrity early in the new year.

Nigel Sweet, who was among residents threatening a bill protest, said the roads filled up with a "brown, trickling mess" of sewage, and described the smell as "appalling".

Mr Sweet said there has been at least four leaks in two months and people were living "in fear" of it happening again.

He said use of tankers to clear sewage had created traffic problems, and that some people were being kept awake with the sound of the pumping all through the night.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].