THE discovery of raw sewage in a back garden has heightened concerns about the strain being placed on drains in Leeming Bar.

Councillors have complained for years that expansion of the village, parts of which have flooding problems, has not been matched by any significant upgrading of the sewage system by Yorkshire Water.

The industrial estate in Leases Road is being extended, more than 20 houses are being built in Northallerton Road and planning permission has been given for a large care home and a group of bungalows for older people on land off Leeming Lane.

Earlier this year, the council invited Yorkshire Water to send an engineering representative to discuss the problems with members, but the meeting has not yet taken place.

On Wednesday, councillors received a complaint from a householder, who supplied photographic evidence, about raw sewage discovered in his garden in Ashlands Drive.

Yorkshire Water was understood to be investigating, but other parishioners reported drainage problems elsewhere in the village, including Northallerton Road.

Councillor Carl Les said: "This is a very serious environmental health issue and this photographic evidence should be sent to Hambleton District Council so that it can approach Yorkshire Water."

Councillor David Crisp said: "A lot of development is going on, which is making the situation worse and Hambleton is approving that development."

Council chairman Andrew Eyles said there had been no substantial improvements in the sewage system for the past 20 years.

Councillor Bob Pocklington said he did not think the complaint about raw sewage was being treated with the urgency it deserved.

When members discussed planning applications later in the meeting, he said: "We don't want to be approving anything in Leeming Bar that is likely to add to the sewage problems."

Members asked villagers to support complaints with as much photographic evidence as possible.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said yesterday: "We take our responsibilities seriously and in circumstances like this, we will always look into complaints.

"We would encourage residents to contact the company with any problems. The more we know about the situation,the clearer the picture we have."

He said that, although Yorkshire Water was asked for its views on planning applications, the company was not a statutory consultee. It was up to developers to install systems that met Yorkshire Water standards.