Councillor Derek Davis has provided this update:

"My thanks go to the relatively swift response from Anglian Water following my phone call regarding the sewage leak at Whiney Queach. They came out as promised and dealt with the blockage.

"James, the engineer called me in the afternoon while I was at full council and explained the situation and how a clean up team would come out to sanitise as much as possible. I appreciated his call.

"Hopefully there will not be repeat, and users will also be careful about what they flush."

Anglian Water have taken urgent action after raw sewage floods onto a public road near a spot popular with children and dog walkers.

After initially telling residents that reported the issue, it would take 48 hours for an engineer to tackle the issue, they upgraded the priority following an intervention by councillor.

The water company were told how the raw seagate coming out of a hole at Whinney Queech was a hazard to children and possible range to dogs if they drank the leakage and they were concerns the flood could seep down the public path running through Shotley Heritage Woods into the River Stour.

Ganges ward councillor Derek Davis contacted Anglia Water direct and an engineer was allocated to tackle the issue.

Cllr Davis said: "After being alerted by residents about raw sewage flooding out by Whinney Queech this morning Anglian Water have assured me personally an engineer will be on site by 2pm.

"Originally the estimated time was 48 hours according to the online reporting tool.

"Thankfully, after speaking with someone direct and explaining the proximity of the area used by children, dogwalkers, and the sewage seeping slowly down Heritage Woods and into the River Stour, the action time was upgraded."