United Utilities: Workers unearth numerous toys in sewer

David Cavill, who operates the jet vac units - the giant flushing and suction machines used to unblock drains - found several bizarre things which have been flushed down the loo.

Alongside popular toys like Laa-Laa from Teletubbies, Batman and Spiderman, the team encountered numerous unexpected items clogging up the sewer network.

The collection was built upon beyond Blackburn, with similar discoveries reported throughout sites across the county.

Andrew Bromley, who works at Bolton Wastewater Treatment Works, shared that he has unearthed a collection of knick-knacks during his shifts.

David Cavill from Wigan and Andrew Bromley from Bolton with some of the toys that have been flushed away (Image: United Utilities)

Andrew said: “There were nearly 18,000 blockages on the sewer network last year and more than half were caused by products which had been flushed.”

While common causes are often wet wipes, cooking fats and oils, the discovery of toys adds another challenge.

Andrew added: “I imagine it is young children dropping them down the loo without realising that they will be lost forever.”

A found Laa Laa from Teletubbies toy (Image: United Utilities)

However, an increase in the number of toys flushed down the toilet can have implications for the sewer network which in turn can lead to blocked pipes, flooded homes and damage to the sewage network.

Andrew said: “There’s a squad of us operating these units across the Northwest and the jobs we carry out range in size, some days it’s a blocked drain, the next day we could be deep underground cleaning out a tank that’s the size of a football pitch. No two days are the same.”

United Utilities wants to remind customers to avoid flushing anything unnecessary down the toilet to avoid blockages in toilets, pipes and drains.

The company has spent millions of pounds cleaning drains and sewers because of products that should not be in them.