A BIDFORD man who has had raw sewage pumped through his home for the past 17 years has finally seen the problem resolved.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Robert Wheeler, aged 47, has put up with waste bubbling up through his toilet, shower and even the kitchen sink. The sewage also covered footpaths near his house after seeping through nearby manholes.

Mr Wheeler said: "I have been fobbed off all the time. With no exaggeration I must have called up about the problem at least 50 or 60 times over the years."

Mr Wheeler believes he has been treated unsatisfactorily by the local authorities. He said: "Both the health authority and the environmental health said it was nothing to do with them. I have been treated very poorly by all concerned."

The problem was finally solved when county councillor Peter Barnes and district councillor Darren Pemberton intervened. After contacting Stratford housing association directly, workmen were sent to investigate the source of the problem.

A cracked sewage pipe was leaking waste into Mr Wheeler's home. The damage is believed to have been caused when gas pipes were laid in the same area almost two decades ago. The workmen repaired the pipe last Friday.

Coun Barnes said: "The whole incident is a disgrace by the housing association. I am just very annoyed that it has taken 17 years for the problem to be sorted out."

The councillor could not believe Mr Wheeler had been forced to put up with the situation for so long.

Coun Barnes added: "I am appalled that a man rings up for so long and does not get anywhere."

South Warwickshire Housing Association said Mr Wheeler first contacted it in September 2001 and again in December 2002. On both occasions the drains were cleared.

In February 2003 the association commissioned a CCTV survey of the drainage system. It was then that the broken pipe was discovered underneath gas pipes.

Operations manager Richard Wright said the association had to let Transco carry out the repair work.

He said: "We feel we have responded promptly to Mr Wheeler. It is not always easy to locate the source of these things."