A STREAM of raw sewage is running into one of the borough's main roads and causing misery for neighbours living near the source.

People close to the broken drain in Hendon Way, Cricklewood, have complained to authorities about the levels of human excrement and household waste that regularly flows on to the pavement and into the street.

Former RAF serviceman John Jeffrey, 71, is now fighting for something to be done about the drainage system in the neighbouring property, which has been broken for more than a month.

“The smell is awful and it is absolutely a health hazard,” he said.

“It was quite horrible during the recent hot weather, and when we get heavy rain it overflows.

“Have a grandson who likes to play outside and it is disgusting. OK, you won't catch cholera or typhoid from it, but you can get other stomach complaints.”

He has contacted the landlord of the property, Barnet Council and Thames Water, but work to repair the collapsed chamber under the driveway may take weeks because permission is needed from Transport for London (TfL) to dig up the road.

But Sophie Kirkham, a spokeswoman for TfL, said they had not had an application for repair works at the address and are not in the process of organising work at the site.

The council's environmental health team has made several visits to the site and advised the owners to clear the collapsed chamber until repair works take place, which includes using tankers to drain the build up.

Environmental chiefs said responsibility falls with the home owner to organise the repairs, but added: “The council’s environmental health team has powers to serve notice on properties where a problem is not resolved within the short-term.

“The council however has liaised with both the home owner and works contractors, and is satisfied appropriate plans are in place for repairs once TfL grant permission.”

But Mr Jeffrey said the cost of the work may well further delay any applications.

“It has become quite frustrating because we don't get anywhere,” he said.

“They get tankers to suck the effluent out of the chamber but that is short lived and an hour later it is full again.

“I fail to see that the borough of Barnet's environmental health team hasn't got a bit of muscle to exert some pressure on someone to do something.”

One of the residents of the house, which has been converted to flats, said she is worried about the problem getting worse.

“The smell is really bad and the longer it goes on the chances are it will start coming back into the house,” said the woman, who did not want to be named.

“There is nothing we can do, it needs professional work on it.

“It is a nice area and to have it flowing into the road is disgusting.”

Amy Dutton, spokeswoman for Thames Water, said they had inspected the sewer but said because it was on private property responsibility for its maintenance was the owner's.

She added:“Situations like these occur all over the country, which is why Defra has announced that in 2011, water companies will take responsibility for private sewers to prevent problems like this occurring, where the customer is responsible for maintenance or replacement of the pipe, often a rather hefty cost."