A family saw sewage bubbling up into their sink and dishwasher after an entire sack of kitty litter was flushed down a toilet.

The family in Burgess Hill found sewage flowing into their home after a blockage in a nearby manhole.

Southern Water engineers came to the rescue and, after putting a camera down the nearby sewer, found another resident had flushed an entire bag of cat litter down the drain.

The litter, which is designed to swell and harden when in contact with liquid, completely blocked the sewer and caused the foul smelling water to flow back into people’s homes.

Roger Williams, of Southern Water, said: “It was like a lump of cement totally blocking the sewer.

“We do see some strange stuff but this was a first. Initially I thought it was cement and our heavy jet wouldn’t clear it and we’d need to get some really heavy equipment.”

Southern Water crews used a heavy jet washer to clear the blockage and arranged a clean up for the affected family.

The water company said it deals with as many as 50,000 blockages every year.