Blocked sewer caused by space hopper wedged in pipe

Scottish Water has found a large space hopper stuck in a sewer in Glasgow, after a busy road was flooded by the blockage.

The utility firm said the inflatable toy was found wedged in a pipe "covered in sludge" after it was likely deliberately forced down a manhole.

A response team removed the space hopper from the sewer in the city's Royston area last Friday.

Team manager Steven Bennett said: "It might raise a smile, but the impact is serious. When you add something like this into the mix, it can quickly turn into a major issue."

Bennett added that wet wipes are biggest cause of sewer blockages, along with "sanitary products, cotton buds, contact lenses, and fats, oils and grease".

"You never quite know what you're going to find when you lift a manhole cover or dig down to a sewer pipe – but a mouldy space hopper is definitely one of the more unusual discoveries," he said

"We've found all sorts over the years – a large Winnie the Pooh teddy, a bike, a pair of jeans, fluffy handcuffs and even a snake."

Scottish Water said it handles around 36,500 blockages every year at a cost of more than £7m across Scotland.