SEWERS across the region are getting clogged up by toilet roll alternatives.

Northumbrian Water said flushing wipes, kitchen roll and newspapers can have devastating consequences on the environment and to customer homes.

Wrongly flushed items are one of the biggest causes of blockages as they usually clog up inside householders' plumbing and sewer pipes.

The Northern Echo:

Simon Cyhanko, head of wastewater networks at Northumbrian Water, said the company understands people affected by toilet roll shortages may have to use alternative products but urged them to put wipes in the bin.

He said: "Blockages can have devastating consequences, from causing people's homes to be flooded with toilet waste to the environment being polluted, but by binning the wipe and toilet roll alternatives you can help make a massive difference.

"No one wants to see harm to the environment and to innocent wildlife, or homes flooded with sewage, which isn't a pleasant experience at any time and especially now, if vulnerable people need to self-isolate because of Covid19.

"Wipes and alternatives, may leave your toilet bowl when flushed, but can clog up your plumbing and cause avoidable plumber callout charges. Even biodegradable products often don't break down as quickly as toilet paper and can linger in sewer pipes, contributing to blockages.

"If customers are going to use any sort of wipe or toilet roll alternative, then please bin them. Toilets are not a bin."

Northumbrian Water's Bin the Wipe campaign is encouraging customers not to use their toilets as a bin, after finding around 64 per cent of the 15,600 blockages cleared in 2019 were caused by wet wipes.