RED-FACED water chiefs apologised after resending engineers to clear a sewer spewing out pollution which they wrongly claimed was under private ownership.

Residents on Green Gate Farm Road, Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, complained to Welsh Water on Saturday afternoon but they were told it was a private sewer and not Welsh water’s responsibility.

Later company bosses realised they had made a mistake and re-sent engineers hours later to clear the blockage.

In the meantime filthy sewage water had crept to within inches of locals front doors.

Yesterday a Welsh Water spokeswoman said: “Following calls of flooding at Greengate Farm Road on Saturday a crew went to investigate, arriving mid afternoon.

“The problem was incorrectly assessed as being on a private sewer, for which we apologise, and the crew left, having advised residents of their responsibility to deal with the issue.

“When further calls were received by Welsh Water, the problem was correctly identified as being on the public sewer.

“Due to the exceptionally bad weather and volume of calls received on Saturday, responses were organised in priority order.

“A crew reached Greengate Farm just before 10pm on Saturday night and found a blockage in the sewer in Heol Caradog, which was jetted and cleared. We once again apologise for the inconvenience.”