A river of raw sewage has flooded the same street three times in ten days.

The stomach-churning sight and smell horrified people in Cricketfield Road, Seaford, and dozens made angry complaints to Southern Water.

But efforts to stop the human waste pumping out of a nearby manhole have repeatedly failed.

Many neighbours found themselves tiptoeing through 4.5in of stinking sludge to get out of their homes.

The foul water created a 100m moat-like puddle outside a terrace and covered flower beds with stinking brown sediment.

People could only sit in their homes and hope the problem would be solved as the third clean-up operation got under way yesterday.

One woman, whose garden was flooded by 10in of the sludge, said: "It's absolutely revolting, I have screamed quite a few times since it happened."

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Susanna Barone, 69, of Cricketfield Road, said the continual flooding came from Crooked Lane where a manhole cover had burst open.

She said: "The first time was not too bad but it was yucky. The maddening thing is they never repaired it and it keeps happening.

"It is a nightmare. It has gone into our garages, our back gardens and the school field behind us. It was thick sludge, you could see footprints in it."

Ms Barone said the shingle in her front garden was clogged with sewage and would have to be shovelled away to get rid of the smell.

She said: "To happen once is a mistake, to happen twice is bad management but a third time is ridiculous."

Large clumps of used toilet paper were left in piles as a team of Southern Water workmen set about clearing the drains.

Alfred Wiltshire, 93, of Cricketfield Road, said the flood was a health hazard.

He said: "The smell is in the house. It's all the muck out of the drainage system. It's annoying they did not deal with it the first time - our gardens and garages have been ruined.

"It has swamped my flower beds. It's disgusting.

"This is my retirement home but it's not much of a retirement."

Patricia McCarthy, 63, of neighbouring Marine Crescent, said a river of sewage flooded the road within 30 minutes.

She said: "It drifts down the road but luckily it has just missed me.

"Nothing has been done each time. They hose the road clean, then up and go."

A Southern Water spokeswoman said: "Southern Water crews are working tirelessly to investigate the cause of the flooding incidents in Seaford, which have been worsened by the recent heavy rainstorms in the area.

"Since the first incident, crews have systematically jetted the sewers in the area, checked the pumping station and found no faults with the system.

"Work continues to further investigate the system with specialist equipment being brought in and CCTV cameras used to identify any causes.

"If necessary, an excavation of the area will be carried out to identify the fault."

She said the company had carried out a full clean-up of the area and taken steps to replace lawns and outside areas damaged by the flooding.

She said: "Southern Water staff have visited residents to keep them updated and have brought in extra staff and equipment to resolve the flooding as soon as possible.

"Tankers have also been mobilised to divert water away from the homes if the rain poses a further threat of flooding.

"Southern Water apologises to its customers for the distress and hopes to discover the cause as soon as possible."