A COUPLE was forced to endure raw sewage in their garden for three days after it overflowed from a nearby manhole.

Thames Water and its contractor have apologised to the Lyons family of Lenham Road, Bexleyheath, after workers failed to clean and disinfect their property after the leak on January 15.

Engineer Timothy Lyons, 57, also claims Thames Water has done nothing to properly address the underlying problem which periodically causes sewage leaks into his garden.

He told News Shopper: "Our garden became a lake of sewage nearly three-feet deep. The smell was appalling."

He said two contract workers arrived after dark when the sewage subsided and picked up the worst of the debris, and promised other workers would follow to hose away the remainder and disinfect the garden.

But despite the promises, he says the garden remained strewn with toilet paper and excrement until workers finally completed the clean-up on January 18.

Because of previous leakages, Thames Water had installed a non- return valve at its mains sewer in the roadway, to prevent sewage from backing up onto Mr Lyons' property.

Mr Lyons said: "The valve has obviously failed but I cannot get any explanation of why this is happening."

The couple were planning to extend their kitchen and had received planning permission.

Mr Lyons said: "But we have now had to put the project on hold because of worries about further flooding."

He is also concerned Thames Water will try to make him pay for any improvements needed to the sewer system to prevent any further flooding, claiming the problem lies on his property.

He said: "It is quite clear the leaks are caused by sewage backing up from the main sewer."

A spokesman for Thames Water said the January 15 leak had been caused by debris and rags blocking its sewer system and causing spillage onto Mr Lyons' property.

He said contractors had intended to return on January 16 to complete the clean-up but had been called to an emergency.

The further delays had been caused by a misunderstanding.