A CAMPAIGN urging people not to flush wipes down the toilet is being launched in Darlington after sewer workers found 159 of them in a single manhole.

Northumbria Water is targeting people living in parts of the town after several hotspots were found.

Last year, more than 60 per cent of blockages across Northumbria Water's network contained wipes, which do not break up and can cause build-ups.

Problem areas have been located in the DL1 4 and DL3 0 postcode areas.

People will initially be sent letters about the Bin the Wipe campaign.

Then, the team will be based in those areas, clearing blockages and identifying where wipes have been flushed.

The water company says it has tools to help it narrow the search to streets and even individual properties.

Those who continue to flush wipes will be warned of the company’s ability to recharge the cost of clearing blockages, or even, in extreme circumstances, prosecute for offences under the Water Industry Act 1991.

Simon Cyhanko, Northumbrian Water’s head of wastewater networks, said: “Wipes that have been flushed down the loo are the biggest cause of blockages in our sewers, which threatens people’s homes, businesses and the environment with flooding.

“When a sewer gets blocked, all the waste people flush away is stopped in its tracks and can only go either back to where it came from or out into the environment. That is the worst thing that can happen to a customer in relation to our network, so we want to stop such unnecessary problems at their root cause.

“Even those wipes that come in packages that claim they are ‘flushable’ can cause problems, because they don’t break down like loo roll and can start or contribute to blockages.

“We can use our team’s specially created tools to trace flushed wipes directly back to homes, and we are able to take action against people who keep flushing them.

"However, we’ve found in the areas we’ve taken Bin The Wipe already that customers are generally willing to make that simple change in their behaviour once they understand the consequences.

“We’re hoping that we can work with the people of Darlington in the same way and make a massive difference when it comes to protecting their homes and the local environment."

“It’s a simple change to make that costs nothing. All we ask is that people stop using their toilets as bins and Bin The Wipe.”

The campaign has been running across parts of Teesside and is also set to be rolled out in Ferryhill, Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland, which are also problem areas