Severn Trent have introduced customers to its very own 'Brothers Grim' - the dynamic duo that tackle sewer blockages across the region.

Leighton Bagley and Jaydan Porteous work on the front line combatting blockages, which are most commonly caused by improper disposal of fats, oils, grease, and curiously even underpants.

Duly living up to their title of 'real-world Brothers Grim', the brothers earn their merits by offering a silver lining to residents impacted by sewer blockages.

 

 

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Hailing from Derbyshire, the duo is part of a swift response team that works meticulously to eradicate fatbergs and clear the sewer conduits.

Mr Bagley, a 41-year-old father of five, said: "Without a doubt wet wipes are the number one problem with sewer blockages.

"We recently lifted a manhole to find it was almost full to the brim with them.

"You do find all sorts of other things wrongly put down the toilet or sink and into the sewers."

The brothers, who share the same mother, are so well-received among customers that the water company says customers often ask them to "please send the brothers".

Mr Bagley, added: "We get on so well and read each other like a book."

Mr Porteous said: "Obviously the job can be a little gross at times, but I love it because you get a real sense of satisfaction helping our customers."

The duo's work is particularly vital given the high rate of blockages across the water company's network, largely due to items like wet wipes, cotton buds, and nappies.

Two and a half tons of such items are removed from the sewers weekly - which equates to an African Elephant in weight.

The company is now spearheading the 'Be a Binner, Not a Blocker' campaign, appealing to the public to moderate their disposal habits.

Grant Mitchell, blockages strategy lead at Severn Trent, said: "Every year our team removes 30,000 blockages from across our waste network, and each week we pull two and a half tonnes of wet wipes from our sewers."

Severn Trent implores people to only flush down the toilet the 'three Ps'– poo, pee, and paper.