February 8, 2001 16:31: DISGUSTED home owners are still suffering from overflowing sewage six weeks after water officials began dealing with the problem.

Residents in Valley Road, Hughenden Valley, saw sewage overflowing into their gardens on December 22 and although Thames Water has provided them with pumps the levels have not subsided.

Residents have been left to pump waste out of their gardens and garages and fear that their homes will be flooded next if the problem is not dealt with.

Dr Jeremy Carless, who lives in Valley Road and runs a surgery there, said: "There is a fountain of raw sewage pumping out of the pipe.

He criticised the National Trust for not putting up warning notices and said: "They have done nothing I can see to warn people about children paddling in the river or taking their dogs in the river.

"I wonder why the Environment Agency isn't on to them. What they need is a heavy fine for pollution. If they were a farmer they would have been fined. It is absolutely revolting, absolutely disgusting."

The National Trust said there was no evidence of sewage in publicly accessible areas and following the advice of the authorities they did not feel that notices were necessary.

The Environment Agency said that once water levels have receded Thames Water will be asked to investigate its sewage system and carry out necessary repairs.

Frank Shepherd, spokesman for Thames Water, said the flooding was due to the heavy rain this winter.

He told the Bucks Free Press the company has provided water pumps, sandbags and tankers to take water out of the system.

He said the sewers were checked for blockages and cleaned.

Caroline Oldfield