A MALVERN pensioner has been forced to use public toilets for the past month due to a blocked drain at his home.

Frank Dutton, aged 75, of Goodwood Road, has been nipping up to his local Safeway store to use its loos.

"Once a day for the past month I've been driving half a mile up to use the public toilets," said Mr Dutton.

"It's hasn't been very convenient but at least I haven't been caught short when the store was closed."

His neighbour Stanley Berrow, whose detached bungalow shares the combined drain, has resorted to using his portable camping toilet.

"If I didn't have this facility I would've had to book into a hotel - but I don't want to leave my home just because of a blocked drain," he said.

"I first smelled sewage back on April 7 and when I lifted the manhole cover it was full, so I stopped putting any more water down.

"This means pouring washing-up water on the garden and not flushing the toilet.

"Six houses have been affected and fears are growing that if action isn't taken others could become blocked."

Mr Berrow said that when he raised the alarm there had been confusion among the agencies over who was responsible for the problem.

Malvern Hills District Council said as the sewer was private, it was not its responsibility to carry out repairs.

"It is the joint responsibility of the two owners for doing the work and paying for it," said Frank Seabright, head of environmental health services at the council.

"We are monitoring the situation and if it becomes a problem and a nuisance, then we can serve notices to move in and have the work done in default, but we would recharge the two owners for the work."

Mr Berrow said Dyno-Rod had been called out to unblock the drain, but in the meantime, neighbour Lucy Ridge is hoping the problem does not spread.

"I've been lucky as it hasn't affected my house yet," she said.

"I've been away for a few weeks but I do feel so sorry for my neighbour who has been forced to use the public toilets."