Families are furious after being denied compensation when a tide of sewage ran into their properties.

Householders living in Worthing are still cleaning up after the filth and water poured into gardens on Wednesday night.

They have now been told Southern Water will not compensate them and they will have to contact their insurers for help.

But people living in Seamill Park Crescent and Seamill Park Avenue have sent a letter to neighbours advising them not to. They said it would send their premiums sky-high because their street would be classed as a risk.

Several neighbours have also contacted their solicitors to see if anything can be done to help them.

The move comes as the Environment Agency launched an investigation after the treatment works failed and led to sewage running loose.

It went into neighbouring gardens and Brooklands Lake after the works at the rear of Seamill Park Crescent filled with sewage.

The agency is monitoring the impact of the sewage and worked throughout the night on Wednesday to assess the damage to the environment.

An agency spokesman said: "Although at the current time, due to high levels of surface water, there appears to have been little detrimental effect on Brooklands Lake, we will continue to monitor the situation as part of a formal investigation into the incident.

Neil Duncanson, spokesman for Southern Water, said: "It is up to individual home-owners to get in touch directly with their insurers.

"As it is gardens that were flooded, it is up to household insurers not us. What we have done is to help with the clean-up, which means pumping out water and providing any disinfecting services if they are needed."

Asked when Southern Water could offer compensation to people, he said: "We have to take each case on its individual merits. There is no general rule."

Sussex braced itself for further flooding after 20mm of rain fell ast night.

The Environment Agency has warned there could be further devastating flooding of homes and land in Lewes and Uckfield.

The agency is asking people to be vigilant and said levels are rising on the River Lavant, the Uck and the Ouse where flood warnings are in place.