An overflowing drain in a busy Hendon high street is causing misery for businesses who say they are regularly affected by the fast flow of water and unpleasant smell.

This afternoon’s short spell of torrential rain resulted in the drain gulley in Johns Avenue overflowing into Church Road.

Businesses in the busy parade say the small flooding has caused a substantial inconvenience for residents and is putting customers off going into shops.

According to Mrs Shah, co-owner of MMS Newsagents, in Church Road, the drain has been overflowing for years.

She said: “Of course it is affecting my business - people do not want to cross over and get their feet wet.

“Not to mention it stinks – the smells even comes in to the shop.

“Even if it rains for five minutes, it overflows. We lose a lot of business over this.”

Dawid Zastawny, a student at Bishop Douglas School, who passes the street four to five times a day said the overflow causes a lot of trouble for passers bys.

Mrs Shah said the drain has been reported to Barnet Council on numerous occasions over the past five years.

All gutter drains in the borough are the responsibility of the authority, which says it is looking into the matter.