AN URGENT plea has been issued by Thames Water as part of a campaign to prevent harmful fatbergs from building up in sewer networks.

Since 2016, there have been nearly 3,000 blockages in Reading, caused by a combination of fat and wet wipes being disposed of down the toilet.

Thames Water estimates that it clears 75,000 sewer blockages per year, at a cost of roughly £18m.

The vast majority of these are caused by a combination of wet wipes, nappies and sanitary products flushed down the loo, mixing with cooking oils flushed down sinks.

On Tuesday, a team of Sewper Heroes were on Broad Street, giving advice to shoppers about what they can do to prevent future blockages.

Unless consumers change their habits and put all offending items in the bin rather than the loo, Thames Water warns the problem of fatbergs beneath our streets will continue.