THE Advertiser/Messenger was praised this week for the part it played in helping to end the misery caused to residents living in a road in Barnt Green by raw sewage pumping up through manholes.

On Monday, workmen from Severn Trent Water Company closed off Fiery Hill Road in order to repair a short length of collapsed sewer pipe.

The work is expected to be completed today (Wednesday).

Last month we highlighted the plight of residents who complained after a garden and parts of the road had become awash with sewage following a heavy storm.

It was the third similar incident this year.

Jan Southall, who lives in Fiery Hill Road, said she is delighted the work had got underway and praised your No1 community newspaper for taking up the issue with the water company which sent an inspector to look at the pipes after the story was published.

A spokeswoman for Severn Trent said the investigation had revealed that a 1.5 to 2 metre section of pipe had collapsed.

Conservative district councillor Ann Doyle, who represents Barnt Green on the authority, said she had been horrified on returning from holiday to read of the incident.

"I am glad Severn Trent has acted swiftly to get on top of the problem and hope the residents of Barnt Green have no further trouble from the sewers," she said.