RESIDENTS of Worcester streets plagued by sewage flooding have had their first stress-free winter, thanks to a new pumping station.

Every year for as long as residents can remember, sewage has flooded through drains into homes and gardens.

But a campaign launched following the Winter 2000 floods has resulted in the new pumping station being built.

It was officially opened yesterday by Mary Dhonau, a Waverley Street resident and chairman of the Worcester Action Against Flooding group.

"As long as we can remember sewage has been a problem," she said, at the launch in Navigation Road.

"This became worse with added development and sewage flooding in the street suddenly became flooding in our homes as well.

"Once Severn Trent realised there was a problem with the system they bent over backwards every step of the way. We have the chance not to be stressed every time it rains.

''However, while this battle is won, the fight isn't over for flood defences in the city.

"I'm going to continue to fight until Worcester residents can sleep secure in the knowledge they're not going to be flooded."

Severn Trent has invested £1.25m in the pumping station, which will deal with waste from one-third of the city.

Phil Gelder, sewer flooding manager for the water company, said he was pleased residents would finally be able to live without the fear of sewage flooding.

"Flooding by sewage is our number one priority. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does it's very traumatic," he said.

"It's about quality of life. You can't put a cost on that. I'm just glad we've delivered the project at last."

Molly Steele, who has lived in the street for most of her life, said it was the first winter she hadn't worried about sewage flooding.

The pensioner lost all her belongings on the ground floor in the 2000 floods.

"We're very pleased with the new pumping station. We would havebeen flooded without it this winter," she said.