VOLUNTEERS and Wessex Water staff worked round the clock this week to clear a tide of raw sewage which swept through Old Cleeve First School on Monday before pupils return after the Easter holiday.
The gardens and paths of nearby cottages in Washford have also been affected as surface water drains backed up, allowing tons of sewage to escape.
“The stuff has completely surrounded my house and the smell is absolutely appalling, one resident said.
Wessex Water officials soon found the cause of the problem – pipes blocked by massive numbers of disposable baby wipes.
Caretaker Keith Hunt said he was called to the school on Monday night to find the playground full of raw sewage more than an inch deep.
It then poured into the building, flooding the foyer, the main school hall, the nursery and the office. School records stored there have been spoiled.
“All the carpets had to come up and the whole place was steam-cleaned. It has been a race against time to get the place fit for when the children come back on Monday,” Mr Hunt said.
“Wessex Water found the problem was baby-wipes. It’s a growing problem all over the country."
Old Cleeve Parish Council chairman Phil Gannon said much of the sewage system in the area was at least 100 years old and could be more prone to blockages than modern sewers.
He said he would welcome a meeting with residents and Wessex Water to increase awareness of the problem.