A PENSIONER woke to find sewage floating in her back garden in Whitstable after torrential rain.

Widowed Barbara Woodham, 80, was confronted with the sewage on Monday after hours of torrential rain.

The grandmother, of Seasalter Lane, even spotted toilet paper bobbing about on her lawn.

Shocked Mrs Woodham must now wait for a Southern Water cleanup crew to deal with the raw sewage.

She said: "It's just such a mess. It comes up through the manholes whenever we have a lot of rain like this.

"The worst bit is that it just keeps happening and no one seems to know how to stop it.

"When my husband was alive he was great at dealing with things like this but since he died it's more difficult."

Mrs Woodham, who has lived in her house for more than 20 years, continued: "I wouldn't mind so much if it was just the rain water. Everyone knows it is difficult for it to soak away when we get a lot of it.

"But this is raw human sewage and it seeps into the dyke over the road. It is absolutely disgusting. I've told Southern Water they need to bring disinfectant when they come to clear it up."

The pensioner has since complained to MP Julian Brazier about the mess.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: "We apologise to Mrs Woodham for the inconvenience caused by this incident, which was due to the heavy rainfall we have experienced over the last few days.

"A cleanup crew has been arranged to be sent to the property as soon as possible."

Sunday's downpour left many gardens under water, and Swalecliffe Brook burst its banks at Long Rock.

Water poured across the road in many places, particularly low-lying areas like Herne Bay Road in Swalecliffe.