Huge clumps of fat and grease block Staffordshire and Cheshire's drains
It's because people aren't disposing of cooking oils and fats properly
Water companies say enormous clumps of fat and grease are blocking up drains and causing floods across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
It's prompted a fresh plea to people who're doing anymore cooking this Christmas to NOT pour cooking fats down the sink.
Grant Mitchell from Severn Trent the oil says Christmas time brings with it a risk that more oils, fats and greases make their way into drains.
"The last thing we want is a flood of your own property, and we are trying to avoid that, and we can avoid that."
Over in Cheshire, United Utilities tell us they dealt with more than 2,000 avoidable blockages caused by the build-up of fats, oils and grease last year.
Andrew Peet is from the water supplier, he said: "We get the usual spread of things like false teeth and children's toys going down to the sewers. It does happen.
"Certainly though, when it comes to food waste, if you use a sink strainer that'll collect all the bits of food. Any oil and fats though allow them to cool and then you can get rid of them in the food waste caddy. A few council's will actually have sites where you can take your oils to as well.
"In terms of sauces on plates, ideally give them a scrape or a wipe down with kitchen roll.
"Try and get as much food and sauce stuff off the plate as you can before you put them into the dishwasher or into the sink."
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