AN INQUIRY was under way tonight into how gallons of stinking sewage flooded under homes and into gardens in Acomb.

Residents spent the day salvaging the mess amid a massive clean-up operation by Yorkshire Water and environmental health officers, which was expected to carry on well into the evening.

Many of those whose homes were affected last night are calling for compensation, and some are demanding rebates on their water bills. Others are furious that Yorkshire Water took three hours to respond to the crisis, and some residents were urged to get tetanus jabs.

Yorkshire Water has issued an apology to the residents concerned and has launched an inquiry. The spillage happened after a pumping station in Danebury Drive failed to cope with a torrential downpour at about 5.30pm yesterday.

Homes in Danebury Drive and Almsford Road were the worst affected, with many gardens completely engulfed by the mire of waste, which in many cases killed off garden-pond fish.

Fourteen-year-old Alex Mackay and Nigel Murray, 29, managed to rescue 11 carp fish from their neighbours' home in Danebury Drive after their pond flooded with sewage.

Owner Brian Wright was furious after it took three hours to get help from Yorkshire Water to pump out his garden.

His wife Val said: "It's absolutely disgusting.

"We've managed to save some fish which are now in our bath. But we had at least another 20 which have died."

Yorkshire Water representatives arrived at the scene, to be greeted by outrage from angry residents.

Alex, and others who had been trudging around in the dirty sewage, were warned that they would need tetanus jabs as a precaution.

Rose Godson and her husband, Desmond, have lived in Almsford Road for 43 years and say the flooding problem has happened before.

"But this is the worst it has ever been," Rose added.

"The sewage has got under the house, so we are going to have to live with this stench for weeks. Our garden is our pride and joy - and it's in total ruins."

Residents were angry that Yorkshire Water took three hours to respond, which the company put down to the need to scramble resources from Bradford.

Stephen and Michelle Milne's garden was completely flooded. Michelle said: "We've got grandchildren who come every day, but there is no way they can come anywhere near this house for quite some time. It's a complete health hazard."

Anne Field, of Almsford Road, said she would be demanding a rebate or reduction in her water bill as a result of the incident.

David Horton, Labour councillor for Acomb, tried to help some residents at the scene. He said: "This is a disaster area and the smell is very bad, particularly with this warm weather." Yorkshire Water spokesman Richard Sears confirmed today that the spillage was caused by the pumping station's failure, although exactly why it failed is not yet known, and will form the focus of the firm's inquiry.

He said: "This is one of the most unpleasant things to have happened to any of our customers, and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience.

"We will be compensating the residents concerned. Yorkshire Water people worked through the night to clean up the area and it will be 'all hands to the deck' today. Raw sewage on gardens is a health hazard, and residents have been given appropriate advice."

The compensation, he added, would be awarded on an individual basis. A spokesman for City of York Council's Environmental Health department said his team was supervising the clean-up operation, and advised people to use their common sense, and avoid contact with the sewage.

If you were affected by the spillage, and need information on tetanus injections, ring the Walk-In Centre in Monkgate on 01904 674557, or contact your GP.

Picture - STINKING FEELING: Desmond Godson, of Almsford Road, shows how the sewage has destroyed his carefully-maintained garden

Picture: Paul Baker