11/02/2025

The exhausting task of cleaning Bridge Farm and the Dairy is in operation. Tom disposes of the morning’s milk. The dairy machinery clean up will take days, even before swabs can be sent off for the lab to show them clear of contamination and so all production is on hold. Tom and Helen hope there will not be further pollution after another wet night.

As Mick and Joy enjoy breakfast, a gurgling noise and terrible smell stops them. As untreated sewage spills from the plugholes, shower and toilet, they try to stop the flow from the utility and shower room through the house.

Meanwhile at their neighbours, The Maliks are horrified to find themselves in the same situation. Azra warns Zainab and Khalil to stay clear, leave the house and not to touch anything, it’s moving fast and could be full of disease.

The affected Beechwood neighbours gather in the street. Zainab and Khalil remember they have left their tablets and laptops in the lounge but Azra forbids them to re-enter. Joy is distraught – her beautiful house and so many contents are destroyed. Zainab feels terrible - she’d moved her dad’s boxes of precious books and photos to the utility room, which will now be unsalvageable.

Joy calls Tom and Helen with the bad news from Beechwood – their home’s ground floor has been filled with sewage and has also ruined Henry and Jack’s boxes, packed for moving. Joy confirms that none of them will be able to live in their houses as they are, and they’ll all need to move out.