A HORRIFIED pensioner who watched as raw sewage pumped onto his front garden has today spoken about the disgusting experience.

A HORRIFIED pensioner who watched as raw sewage pumped onto his front garden has today spoken about the disgusting experience.

Tony Gulliver, 67, said the stench was horrendous and at one point he was worried the sewage may even seep inside his house.

Mr Gulliver, of London Road, Capel St Mary, said: “It was simply awful and I have no idea how it happened.

“We're next door to the pumping station and my garden is at the lowest point of the street.

“It was pretty nasty. I was worried because I could imagine our house getting flooded with sewage.”

Thankfully for Mr Gulliver, who lives with his wife Elizabeth, Anglian Water staff were able to get to the scene within three hours.

However Mr Gulliver said he was upset that he had initially been told it could take up to 12 hours to receive help.

He said: “They said it would take up to 12 hours. In an emergency 12 hours is a lot.

“I'm pleased they did get here and they were nice people who came out but I think the attitude that is could take up to 12 hours is bad.”

A spokeswoman for Anglian Water said staff arrived within three hours to help out Mr Gulliver and to clear the problem.

She said: "It was caused by a six-inch pipe which had been dumped in the sewer.

"It's a nine-inch sewer so it effectively blocked the sewer. That's what caused the sewage in it to back up.

"We have cleaned the sewer and got the pipe out and helped the gentleman with the clean-up operation.

"We don't know who dumped the pipe or where it came from."

n Have you been affected by sewage problems? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.