Residents say the problem has occurred several times

People living in North Furzeham Road in Brixham awoke on Thursday to find human waste cascading down the street, just inches from their front doors.

South West Water has apologised to customers and is carrying out an investigation into what has caused the problem.

Resident Jean Campbell said: "It's going back to the medieval times, having to step over gutters laden with faeces."

South West Water say they have spent �20,000 on sewer upgrading

Mrs Campbell's husband, Francis, said: "Over the last 18 months to two years, it has occurred on a fairly regular basis.

"Normally it is associated with heavy rain, but now it's happening with minor rainfall, or on this occasion, none at all."

South West Water recently relined a pipe which had been getting blocked.

But on this occasion debris, including a bottle and CD, proved to be responsible for the blockage.

Contractors arrived during the morning to clear the problem.

In a statement, South West Water said they had recently spent �20,000 to upgrade the sewer in question.

"We are investigating the cause of the blockage and apologise to customers for any inconvenience."