FED-up residents living in a Dudley block of flats are kicking up a stink after putting up with sewage coming up through their baths for the last six months.

But to add insult to injury, residents living in Claverley Court, Vicarage Prospect, were incensed to receive a letter from their council housing manager suggesting they just put the plug in their empty bath to alleviate the problem.

Resident Gary Wells, alongside some of his neighbours, first noticed something was wrong when they heard a gurgling noise coming from their baths.

But now they are having to put up with sewage coming up through the plug holes, which leaves a “brown grease mark in the bath and smells horrible.”

Six months down the line and despite numerous visits from council inspectors and various workmen, Mr Wells, 58, says little has been done to resolve the problem.

He said: “When it first happened we reported it to the council straight away. With it being a sewage problem, we thought they would act straight away but they didn’t.

“We have had so many people come out and look but they have all said they could do nothing about it.”

Workmen have brought rodding and cameras to view the problem but to no avail, although the council has fitted special siphons on their plugs, which were expected to deter the smell but has not solved the problem.

And it is not just an isolated incident as Mr Wells knows of at least five neighbours living on floors below him and even on the top 15th floor who are reporting similar problems and smells coming from the pipes in their flats.

He said: “The council seems to be less than forthcoming with answers. I can’t get any joy out of them.”

Frustrated Mr Wells voiced his concerns to councillors at Central Dudley Area Committee, reading out the short letter received from the housing manager, which triggered much laughter.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Wells, who has lived in the flats for nine years, said: “Everyone had the same reaction when they read the letter for the first time.

“My eight-year-old grandson came up with that same suggestion when he stayed with me for the weekend a few months back.

“This is just the wrong attitude for the council to have and anyway, the sewage and air blows the plug out of the hole when it comes up.”

He added: “We shouldn’t be getting this sewage in our houses – what about dysentery? I have had two heart attacks and I don’t need this added stress and hassle of dealing with it. I just want it sorted so I can go back to living my life.”

Backing Mr Wells and other residents is ward councillor Mary Roberts, who said she too was getting passed “from pillar to post” in trying to sort out the issue.

She said: “Mr Wells contacted me in September about this saying he wasn’t getting anywhere with the problem. But I too ended up going round in circles.

“I think he is quite justified in his complaint. Can you imagine just what it must be like to get a smell like that in your place?”

Mrs Roberts added: “And when he showed me the letter, I just burst out laughing, which everyone else did at the meeting. But it isn’t a laughing matter at all, it’s ludicrous. I do hope the council will prioritise this as it needs to be sorted.”

A council spokesman said: “We have carried out work in two homes, which has resolved residents’ complaints about smells. We will continue to work with residents on any outstanding issues.”