'Sewage in our house has ruined our lives'

A retired headteacher has said sewage flooding the ground floor of his house has "completely destroyed" his life.

Buster Price, 70, who lives with his wife in Chislehurst in south-east London, said more than £100,000 worth of damage was caused after waste emerged from his toilet last Wednesday.

He said: "We're under huge stress which is completely unnecessary and it's entirely down to Thames Water and their attitude to their customers."

Thames Water said it was "very sorry".

The cause of the flooding has not been found by the water company.

Mr Price said his and Patricia's home was no longer habitable after the ground floor toilet backed up leaving up to 3in (7cm) of raw sewage in some rooms.

The former Dartford Grammar School and St Dunstan's College in Catford teacher said the water company was "verging on the criminal with their irresponsibility".

He added: "I retired to lose stress and, unfortunately, Thames Water has decided to increase it again.

"The deal had always been we paid them lots of money and they got rid of the mess that we have to make because we are human beings.

"In this particular case, the deal seems to have changed and they've given me everyone else's waste without discussing it with me."

Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, called it "an absolute disgrace".

He said: "Thames Water have to be held to account, this is unacceptable. I've spoken to Buster personally and it's clearly massively distressing.

"It's completely outrageous for Thames Water to chicken out of their responsibility for wrecking someone's home."

Mr Price, who is temporarily living in his son's two-bedroom flat with his daughter-in-law, said despite the water company sending in a cleaner "there is still excrement lying around".

He added: "I would like Thames Water to immediately give us a cash amount so we can find somewhere to live and to settle the £100,000 plus bill which is required to sort out the property.

"We have a lot of antique furniture, thousands of pounds of valuable antiques and an old family heirloom rocking-horse.

"The entire downstairs of the house is going to have to be gutted including underfloor central heating."

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We're very sorry that Mr Price has experienced internal sewer flooding at his home.

"We know just how unpleasant and distressing this can be and have been working with him to resolve this matter.

"Our specialist contractors have completed an in-depth clean up at Mr Price's home, and he has been supported by one of dedicated customer representatives whom he has spoken with today, as we continue to review this incident."

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