CHILDREN walking to school in a South Lakeland village had to walk through sewage, including human waste and condoms, after a drain leak.

Burneside residents were horrified on Friday morning to find bathroom waste and faeces strewn across the road near Bridge Street, opposite Steeles Row, following a period of heavy rain.

The closure of flood-damaged Ford Bridge compounded the problem, meaning children as young as four had to walk along the polluted road, according to locals.

Derrick Wade, a member of Burneside Parish Council, said it was wrong that children from St Oswald’s Church of England Primary School had to walk through the mess released from the drain.

“For kids to have to walk through human excrement, toilet rolls, condoms and sanitary towels is absolutely disgusting,” he said.

“It (the waste) runs right across the road and into the river.

“I’ve reported it nine times this year, I can’t understand why it has not been sorted before now.”

Gill White, the head teacher at St Oswald’s Church of England Primary School, said: “The school is aware that children had to walk through waste last Friday on their way to school, as a result of having to take a different route due to the bridge closure in Burneside. The issue of overflowing waste is unacceptable, and needs to be addressed regardless of the bridge closure and I believe a number of people have contacted United Utilities about this.

“It’s very unfortunate that the bridge has been closed, and that the checking and repair work could not have been done at the same time as the earlier bridge closure. This not an ideal situation however, as alongside the drainage issues the road is very narrow, and we need an alternative footbridge providing as soon as possible, particularly with the onset of winter and shorter daylight hours.”

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We are currently working on an investigation, and design work of the local sewer system, to see if a flood alleviation scheme would benefit the local area and solve the long-running issue.”