Flooding from a sewer in Northern Ireland was caused by a screwdriver and ball of rags.

Water company Northern Ireland Water found the items shoved down a drain in the Rathgill area of Bangor where it had caused the flooding.

The firm’s interim director of operations David Dangerfield says, “Blockages can have a dramatic impact not only on individual customers but also on the environment and community.”

“We’re playing an active role in educating the public on the benefits of disposing their water in a bin.”

“This will improve the efficiency of the drainage system as well as safeguarding the environment.”

“Our sewerage system was only designed to cope with human waste and small volumes of toilet roll.”

“Other items such as cotton buds, nappies, tampons and baby wipes that people flush down the toilet do not break up and usually clump together to form a ball of rags.”

Dangerfield says Northern Ireland Water was continuing to run its ‘Bag It and Bin It’ campaign to educate the public on the dangers of flushing inappropriate items down the toilet.