FURIOUS residents in a Chorley street have received backing from the council in the fight to stop their garden flooding with sewage.

Now the council's legal team may be called in to help, after water company United Utilities said the problem could take four years to be resolved.

George and Irene Griffiths, both retired, moved to Chelmsford Place, in 1969. Since then the drains near their home have overflowed, flooding their garden regularly every year.

Mrs Griffiths said: "A few months after moving in we had a flash flood. The garden and the garage flooded, but we just thought it was one of those things. Since then it has happened two or three times a year."

After years of cleaning up the mess, they finally contacted the local council, only to learn that it was sewage flooding their garden, and that they should not be touching it.

Mrs Griffiths said: "We had always known it stunk, but in 1997 we found out it wasn't our responsibility. The council said it could have syringes in or anything.

"It was only then we realised we had a fight on our hands, and now I am just a nervous wreck whenever it rains."

Andy Goodfellow, head of engineering and transportation at Chorley Borough Council, said: "Flooding occurs adjacent to the property following heavy rain and is contaminated with sewage.

"The council manages the problem sewerage on behalf of United Utilities, cleans up, and arranges compensation for the distress and disruption caused. We have asked United Utilities on a number of occasions to improve the sewers in the area." He said they have investigated the sewerage to ensure there are no problems such as blockages or a partial collapse and vowed to continue monitoring the situation, adding: "The council's legal services unit is considering whether any action can be taken to force United Utilities to improve the situation sooner rather than later."

But United Utilities have assured the council that something will be done.

Helen Masterton from United Utilities, said: "We are aware of the problem in Chelmsford Place and funding will be made available to tackle it. However, there are one or two places in the North West where this occurs. £29 million is available for the worst cases over the next five years, but our job is to prioritise.

"We are working with Chorley Borough Council to find a solution but we cannot give a precise date yet as to when work will take place in Chelmsford Place."

But Mrs Griffiths is determined to keep fighting: "I do understand they have other problems, but I don't think many people have got raw sewage in their garden. Now we are frightened every time it rains. I pick up my grandson, Connor, every afternoon and bring him back here, but if it's raining I'm scared to do that!"