'Fatberg' removed from London sewer

A 'fatberg' the size of a double-decker bus has been removed from a sewer in London.

The 15-tonne mass of food fat mixed with wet wipes was removed from underground pipes in Kingston in Surrey.

It was found when residents complained they couldn't flush their toilets.

Thames Water, who run the sewers, believe that if it hadn't been removed, it could have led to sewage flooding homes, streets and businesses.

Lump of lard

"We've never seen a single, congealed lump of lard this big clogging our sewers before," said Thames Water waste contracts supervisor Gordon Hailwood.

CCTV investigations in London Road found the mound of fat had reduced the sewer to just five per cent of its normal capacity.

They are now repairing the sewers and say it could take up to six weeks to fix them.