A river of human faeces has swamped a family's front garden and forced them to use a makeshift bridge to leave their home.

Sewage spilled out of the garden's manhole in Whippendell Road yesterday morning (February 6) and seeped into the road.

“It’s quite disgusting and it’s not a very nice situation to be living in,” they explained.

Watford Observer: The sewage outside the home. taken around 9.30am this morning.The sewage outside the home. taken around 9.30am this morning. (Image: UGC)

“Luckily indoors we can’t smell anything. We’ve shut the windows but when you stick your head out you can smell it.

“We’ve had to make a bridge out of a pallet to try to get into work.”

Pedestrians are now having to cross the road to avoid the outside of the home due to waste leaking onto the pavement.

Watford Observer: The sewage outside the home. Taken 9.30am this morning.The sewage outside the home. Taken 9.30am this morning. (Image: UGC)

Although the situation has never got quite so vile, the same manhole cover has had sewage flowing out from it before, last in 2017.

In the past nearby residents were apparently told the blockage was caused by a fatberg forming underground.

Fatbergs are formed when fat, oil and grease are poured down sinks and drains and combine with items that should not be flushed down the toilet, such as unflushable wet wipes, nappies, and cotton buds.

Watford Observer: A particularly large fatberg seen in Cathedral Street, London, in 2019.A particularly large fatberg seen in Cathedral Street, London, in 2019. (Image: PA)

Thames Water has confirmed that it will be addressing the issue soon.

The company warns people not to “feed the fatberg” and describes them as “like monsters from the deep, lurking and growing under our feet”.

The family noticed leaking sewage outside their home and contacted Thames Water at around 8.40am yesterday. They were told a team would be sent to address the issue within 48 hours.

Watford Observer: The manhole cover, taken yesterday morning.The manhole cover, taken yesterday morning. (Image: UGC)

“I’ve been chasing them and trying to get help from anybody,” one of the residents said.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports of a sewage overflow on Whippendell Road in Watford.

"We suspect this is a sewage blockage and this incident is being treated as a high priority with engineers due to attend in the next 24 hours.

"Once in attendance they will clear away the sewage and any blockage they find.

"We’d like to apologise to local residents for any inconvenience caused during this time.”

Watford Observer: The sewage outside the home, with the pallet. Taken 9.30am today.The sewage outside the home, with the pallet. Taken 9.30am today. (Image: UGC)