A SEWER in Pontypool, leaking waste into the street, was vandalised according to Welsh Water.

The water board has vowed to fix the problem by the end of the month. But residents say it is dangerous and causing a stink.

The public sewer in Clairwain, off The Highway, has been an ongoing problem for residents for months.

Now, with the recent freezing weather, the water has formed a ‘sheet of ice’ on the road creating a hazard for locals.

Fred Marshall, 83, has lived in the area for 40 years. He said he is concerned about the health risk the leak poses residents.

"It is dangerous," he said.

"I don’t think many people realise its waste, they think it is water.

"It is running down the road. The weather is cold at the moment but if it got warmer it would be very unpleasant."

Mr Marshall said Welsh Water visited the area on Christmas Eve and appeared to have remedied the problem but by Boxing Day the manhole cover was leaking again.

A spokeswoman for Welsh Water said: "We were alerted to a manhole which was leaking at Clairwain, New Inn last month and a team was immediately dispatched to investigate.

"Investigations were carried out which revealed that third party damage to the public sewer had caused the leak. A full repair will be carried out by the end of this month."