The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) is urging households across England and Wales to join the battle to reduce the tens of thousands of blockages clogging up our drains and sewers.

A dismantled greenhouse, space hopper and hand grenade were just a few of the strange finds discovered in the UK’s sewers, as water companies spent about £50 million clearing over 200,000 blockages in 2014/15 caused by inappropriate items put down the loo and sink.

However, CCWater said none of these came close to matching the problems caused by the thousands of wet wipes flushed down the loo or the greasy fats and oils poured down the sink.

According to CCWater research, a growing number of consumers (64% in 2014 compared to 43% in 2013) can identify what items should not be flushed down the loo. However, wet and so called ‘flushable’ wipes still accounted for up to a third of sewer blockages in some parts of England and Wales – with customers ultimately footing the bill.

Table:Figures based on estimates provided by the companies