STINKING sewerage covered a garden in Belton this week in the latest leak from the village's drainage system. Dark coloured rubbish strewn effluent poured over Betty Harper's lawn for more than two hours on Wednesday morning.

STINKING sewerage covered a garden in Belton this week in the latest leak from the village's drainage system.

Dark coloured rubbish strewn effluent poured over Betty Harper's lawn for more than two hours on Wednesday morning. Mrs Harper claims it is the seventh time the drain at her house in The Loke has overflowed this year.

The polluted water gushed from underneath a manhole cover spreading to the meadow behind the house used by Mrs Harper's horses.

The discharge, which also flooded a neighbouring garden, was caused when the pumping station in nearby Sharman's Loke stopped working.

Engineers from Anglian Water were due to replace the ageing pumps this week, but the work was delayed following the flooding in Bradwell and Gorleston last Friday.

“This has been going on 30 years, at first it was every now and again when there was a power cut or severe weather now it is happening more and more,” said Mrs Harper.

“I can't put my two horses in the paddock behind the house and let my dogs out when this happens.

“Luckily there is not a wall around the garden or all the sewerage would get trapped there.

“It's impossible to plan anything like a BBQ or invite children round to play in the garden.

“I have been told I could apply for compensation, but I just want to get the problem solved.

“Each time this happens you think oh no not again. I get angry, but cannot do anything; there has been no explanation as to why this is happening.”

In the last few months Anglian Water has had to repeatedly send out a team to clean up the mess caused by flooding from the drain.

Anglian Water spokesman Collette Nichols said: “The drainage problem was caused by a pump failure. The pumps should have been replaced last week, but crews were directed elsewhere to deal with flooding in the area. The new pumps should be installed next week and we hope this will reduce the problem.

“You can never say that this will not happen again, because it is impossible to know what effect the weather will have at any time.

“Some homes are more vulnerable than others, but this should go a long way to addressing the problem.”

Last week the Mercury reported the how alleged pollution from an Anglian Water pumping station had repeatedly contaminated Stepshort Dyke in Belton, forcing out a family of swans.