Sewage leak causes concern

Mavis Thomas, of Neville Court, said she had reported a "serious blockage" of the sewers to Yorkshire Water at lunchtime on Sunday. However, 24 hours and several phone calls later, no action had been taken.

Mrs Thomas told the Herald that by that time raw sewage was seeping from the manholes on to her patio.

She said it was stressed to Yorkshire Water the proximity of the village school to the drains and they originally told her it had been marked as an emergency case.

However Mrs Thomas added: "Twenty eight hours later we were informed by Yorkshire Water that we were not a priority until sewage was coming into the house!

"When we are paying Yorkshire Water for our supply we do not expect to be treated like this? Would the managers of this authority have raw sewage in their back yards? I think not!"

She added that if the problem was not sorted out the health of the schoolchildren and playgroup could be affected.

Mrs Thomas said her husband, Alan, had been checking the manholes every day and added that their next door neighbour, who was in her 80s, was also experiencing the same problem.

She added the drains had been inspected by a representative from Craven District Council, who had also promised to contact Yorkshire Water.

Shona Watson, acting head teacher at Gargrave Primary School, told the Herald on Wednesday that she was treating the problem as a priority job and planned to keep the pressure on Yorkshire Water

She said: "If there is any more rain, the blockage could start to affect the school very soon. The drains are in very close proximity to the school, in fact they're only about 20 to 30 yards away."

Yorkshire Water finally turned up to deal with the problem about 11am on Wednesday and said it had been caused by a blockage on the main drain. The delay was due to more pressing cases brought about by the heavy rain.