A HEAVY downpour late last month led to this - a sight all too familiar for many living in Hemsby. Peggy Sutton, who lives on Newport Road, sent in this picture of her road and expressed her unhappiness with what is an ongoing problem.

A HEAVY downpour late last month led to this - a sight all too familiar for many living in Hemsby.

Peggy Sutton, who lives on Newport Road, sent in this picture of her road and expressed her unhappiness with what is an ongoing problem.

Mrs Sutton explained how the street was impassable outside The Bermuda Chalet Park, and told how water was washing into people's gardens as vehicles tried to navigate the mini-river.

She said: “Water was also pushing up through the manhole covers on Hall Road and this, mixed with sewage water, flows into the river and contaminates the water that we are drinking.

“When will our outdated, antiquated and inadequate pipelines be upgraded to cope with the ever-increasing population and rainfall?”

Mrs Sutton said that every time there was heavy rain, she and those like her were “made fearful” that their homes would be flooded, as last happened in September 2006.

She added: “It's no joke for the residents who live in these areas and who are immediately affected by the results of heavy rain and all the health hazards and upheaval that follows such events.”

On the day, there was traffic chaos across Norfolk, due to the heavy rain, with emergency services having to race to numerous road accidents following the county-wide downpour.

A spokesperson for Anglian Water said: “The capability of the Hemsby station in dealing with domestic waste water is not in doubt. Our drains are designed to carry waste water and are fit for purpose.

“Surface flooding as a result of heavy rainfall does not indicate a problem with our sewerage systems as they are not designed for rain water flood relief.

The recent pump failures at Hemsby were caused by inappropriate items being put down drains and into the sewerage system, causing a blockage.

“We urge people not to flush products such as nappies, facial or baby wipes and sanitary items down the toilet but in fact dispose of them responsibly by putting them in the bin.”

Following a long history of flood issues in the area, there have been calls from some within local parish councils to reintroduce regular contingency meetings.

This would allow them to discuss flooding issues with representatives from Great Yarmouth Borough Council as Anglian Water representatives among others.