Families' fears over polluted water flood

Contaminated water is flooding back gardens and "running like rivers" down driveways of homes in a South Staffordshire village.

About 10,000 litres of water were pumped out behind homes on Lingfield Drive, Great Wyrley.

Network Rail contractors did the work last week. Ten homes, parallel to the railway track embankment, have been affected by flooding. Brian Wainwright, who has lived there for 37 years, said a neighbour has had problems with flooding coming through the embankment for at least four years.

The 70-year-old, who has retired, said the problem was getting steadily worse and more homes got flooded back gardens and driveways.

He said: "The water's coming down through the embankment, forming a big pool at the back of the houses and then it comes down into people's gardens.

"It was like a pond before they pumped it. When it rains the water comes down the neighbours' drives and onto the road like a river."

Great Wyrley Parish Council clerk Mike Holder said a playing field on the other side of the embankment was also flooded.

He said: "We have evidence that water is being fed onto our land from the industrial estate on the other side of the railtrack and we have actually seen water cascading from the railway embankment.

"There is a pipe that runs from the one side of the railway track to the other. It is depositing water onto our land and it would appear to be polluted with oil."

An investigation is being led by Network Rail and involves the Environment Agency and South Staffordshire Council.

Mavis Choong, of Network Rail, said: "We are still trying to find the source of the contaminated water which flows through the culvert under the railway track and we are helping to remove the water. It has been caused by Network Rail's operations and the contamination has now been reduced according to the Environment Agency."