A WATER company has denied claims that flooding was caused by an unmanned pump.

Joan Newton, of Mainsgate Road, Millom, has demanded an explanation as to why her home has nearly flooded three times in the last two years, most recently this weekend.

Mrs Newton said on Saturday the water was 'lapping at my front door and my garden and garage was flooded.'

She said she believed the cause of the flooding was that the pumping station in Millom is an unmanned system.

She said whenever there was excessive rain and the system struggles to cope, a member of staff must come from elsewhere to manually override the system

However a spokeswoman from United Utilities has denied the claims that their pump is to blame for the flooding.

She said: “Having checked with our engineers, our pumps in Millom worked as they should, but the issue was not related to the functioning of the sewers.

“After responding to residents’ concerns and having carried out checks, we found no evidence of sewer debris.

“This means the floods were the result of surface water flooding during a sudden intense localised rain storm.”

Last weekend, firefighters were called to Millom to pump water away.

Authorities provided sandbags to residents most at risk following a period of heavy rain.

This follows two other incidents of flooding in Millom in the last two years.

In September 2017, the area flooded and Mrs Newton’s house was severely damaged.

She claimed she ‘lost everything’ as a result.

Then the house nearly flooded again in November 2018.

Mrs Newton has spent around £50,000 repairing her home after previous floods.

She said: “I’ve contacted United Utilities about what happened and haven’t heard anything back.”

She now wants to meet with United Utilities to discuss what happened to her home last weekend and to address the 2017 incident.

She said: “I want them to show me proof the pump was manned back in September 2017."

She added: "Things can’t go on like this.

“I’ve contacted the town council who said they are going to call a meeting.

“I’ve also contacted my MP Trudy Harrison and will meet her about the issue.”