A FATHER-of-three says a council's delay in responding to a broken sewer poses a health hazard to his children.

Kevin Jones, of Bridge Street, Bishop Auckland, says he is afraid to let his children play outside because of the hazard posed by sewage.

Mr Jones said he first complained to Wear Valley District Council over a smell coming from a patch of grass near his home three months ago.

The ground was waterlogged and he was initially told the smell was caused by stagnant water.

Four weeks ago officers from the environmental health department confirmed the problem was sewage.

Mr Jones said: "The grasscutters can't get anywhere near it so the grass has grown up around it and you don't know it's there until you're on top of it.

"I can't let my kids out of the back of the house and so they have to play at the front by the road.

"My eldest child had her tonsils out the other day and I didn't dare let her out of the house because of the airborne germs."

Tom Carver, head of public protection at Wear Valley District Council, said the hole had been filled and work was due to start soon to resolve the problem.

He said: "We are awaiting confirmation from Northumbria Water to find out if it is our responsibility or theirs.

"Once we find out who it belongs to then, hopefully, the matter will be resolved soon. We anticipate work will start next week."