SPARE a thought for sewage workers in Worcestershire this Christmas who are hoping the goose doesn’t get too fat as they prepare to embark on one of their busiest periods.

Tom Palmer and his colleagues at Evesham’s Severn Trent sewage works have revealed that the extra festive cooking means a lot of extra fat, oil and grease can wreak havoc by clogging sewers and jamming pumps.

He said: “No one wants to deal with a clogged sewer or drain, especially over the holiday season. Unfortunately, that’s when we see most problems.

“It’s easy to assume that the warm grease and fat left over from your Christmas turkey would be OK to dump down the sink, as long as you wash it down with a bit of hot, soapy water.

“But the reality is that it will eventually cool and solidify, building up and blocking the drain or sewer. Better to wipe out greasy pans with a bit of kitchen roll and then put it in the bin, or pour large amounts into a jar with a lid.”

He added: “Many people do not realise they are responsible for the waste pipe running away from their home until it either crosses the property boundary or meets with another pipe or sewer.

“Unblocking or repairing this section of pipe can be costly, but avoidable, if you’re careful about what you put down your loo or sink.”

Severn Trent revealed it spends more than £10 million each year cleaning more than 7,000km of sewers which are prone to clogging and clearing 22,000 sewer blockages – a cost which is then passed on to customers.