FED-up residents whose gardens are regularly flooded with sewage have made an impassioned plea for action.

A section of Leybourne Avenue in Northbourne has been routinely flooded twice a year for decades.

Wessex Water has investigated the situation and promised to start making improvements next year. But after Wednes-day’s flash flood once again left their gardens swimming in sewage, residents say they are no longer willing to wait.

Annie Christopher, who saw her award-winning garden and vegetable plot ruined by the flood, said: “We get two to three foot of water. Our back gardens are the lowest point and they flood incredibly quickly.

“We are powerless to do anything about it and it causes such huge problems. All my vegetable crops are now wasted, everything in our outbuildings is contaminated, it’s awful.

“Last year Wessex Water did an exploratory operation and found various blockages and weaknesses in the system.

“They plan on starting to remedy the problem next year but I don’t want to wait any longer. It’s been too long as it is.

“If you go out for an evening and you know heavy rain is predicted you don’t know what you will find when you come back. We’re all just fed up with it.”

Kinson North Cllr Pat Lewis is also calling on Wessex Water to make Leybourne Avenue a top priority.

“I went out there on Wednesday evening and it was just awful,” she said. “There was sewage and toilet paper everywhere. This has been going on for donkeys’ years and it’s got to be sorted out. Next year won’t do. The quality of life for these residents is awful.”

Clare-Marie Dobing, Wessex Water spokeswoman, said: “Wessex Water is aware that occasionally flooding problems occur in Leybourne Avenue following exceptional weather conditions. We believe this has been caused by restrictions in the sewerage network.

“Last year Wessex Water spent £100,000 unblocking a nearby sewer which helped resolve some localised flooding and removed around 30 tonnes of Tarmac and concrete that was wrongly disposed of in the sewer.

“Within the next few months we will be investing around £200,000 on a scheme to remove restrictions in sewers in the area which will hopefully alleviate flooding problems.

“Residents who suffered sewage flooding in their gardens have been compensated and we have assisted with the clean-up following each reported incident.”