People flushing wet wipes and kitchen roll down loos has led to a surge in drain blockages during the Covid-19 lockdown.

A mum from Canterbury was horrified when Southern Water workers pulled five bin bags-worth of wipes from a drain near her home.

Sharing images of the foul findings on Facebook, Naomi MacIver wrote: "Please would folk stop flushing things down their toilets that shouldn’t be flushed.

"Wipes of any kind, even if they say they are flushable, they are not and should not be flushed. Likewise nappies, sanitary towels, cotton buds, tampons, socks and even kitchen roll should not be flushed."

Southern Water was called to her home in Wincheap after she reported plugs in her home draining slowly and loos rising to the rim when flushed.

But workers had to remove blockages spanning four properties, before the sewage line was cleared.

Mrs MacIver, who says her family do not use wet wipes, was shocked to see huge piles of the disposables pulled from the system.

"The guy said that 95% of Southern Water's calls in recent weeks have been to clear residential drains, which is I guess understandable given people are home and using them more," she said.

"Yesterday he was at a call where people were using socks because they had no toilet paper.

"This is obviously a downside to toilet roll stockpiling and it is a shame people have been left in this position but it should not be happening.

"While it’s their job and the chap was not complaining at all, they shouldn’t have to be pulling out your wipes from drains. Put them in a bin or better still, don’t use them."

Southern Water has warned customers to be careful about what they put down sinks and loos during the Covid-19 lockdown - adding that dealing with blockages puts their staff at increased risk.

Spokesman Simon Fluendy said: "There was a big upsurge at the start of the Covid-19 crisis because people were stuck without toilet paper, and some bad habits crept in - wet wipes and kitchen towels being the problem.

"Anyone who does that is playing 'flush and roulette' not just with their own home, but with their neighbours'. Our key workers have to go out and put it right, and obviously it increases the risk of Covid for everybody involved.

"So apart from the potential for internal flooding, the fact that they're then having to go into people's homes makes it quite serious."

For information on how to keep drains clear and deal with 'unflushable' items, visit the Southern Water website.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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