A COUPLE told last night of their misery after their home was swamped with raw sewage for the eighth time.

Keith and Marie Reay live in fear of the effects of a downpour on their home, in Durham.

When a storm hit a week ago, they were faced once again with raw sewage and rainwater pouring through their garage and utility room.

They remain baffled, however, as to why only a month previously, they were told by Northumbrian Water that their property was no longer at risk.

The couple have been battling with the water company since their first deluge in 2000, not long after they moved into the property, in Salisbury Road, on the Newton Hall Estate.

There have been seven further incidents, which have resulted in damage to their property and left an overpowering smell and a health risk, say the couple.

Northumbrian Water has carried out some work at the property, along with a number of surveys to tackle the problem and find out its cause.

Mr Reay said: "We were told, however, that capital works needed carrying out and that they would be undertaken between 2005 and 2006.

"Then we were told that it had been put back to 2006 to 2007, but then a month ago, we were told that in the view of Northumbrian Water, the problem had been resolved and our home was no longer at risk."

Last weekend's storm resulted in water and sewage pouring into their garage and utility room, where they have a freezer and a fridge.

Mr Reay said: "Thankfully, on this occasion we were at home. In one of the instances, we were abroad and came back to face an horrendous mess. There is no doubt in our minds that this recurring situation has seriously devalued our home."

A Northumbrian Water spokesman said the severe and localised downpours had been exceptional, with about a month's rainfall in three hours.

The spokesman said the company had been working on the system around the Reays' home and had carried out a hydraulic survey and cleaned the sewer.

He said the company was discussing the problem with consumer groups Ofwat and Water Voice and was anxious to resolve the matter as soon as possible.