FLOODING, power cuts and sewage seeping through drains have brought misery after telecoms giant Cable and Wireless began digging up their road, claim residents.

The company has been working in Pound Lane, Marlow, for two months and householders are accusing them of steam-rolling their way through the up-market estate, cutting electric cables, bursting water mains and blocking drains.

A 19-year-old resident, who lives in the estate in Garnet Court and asked not to be named, spoke of her disgust after sewage began seeping through her drains.

She said: "They cut all our sewage off and it wasn't too nice. We told them but they didn't seem to care. The road looks awful now. I'm angry and disappointed. They have caused so much upset pretty much along the whole of the Pound."

The cable-laying is a fibre-optic cable to improve business connections between the UK and America.

Mike Knight, area manager for Buckinghamshire County Council, said: "I'm very sorry for anyone who has had any problems with these works. There is no justification for it. They are not supposed to cause any damage."

Another resident, who also asked not to be named, had the works go straight past his front door.

He said: "The whole thing is crazy. They have cut off our water, our gas supply and flooded the road twice. They should be forced to answer to this type of behaviour."

The work has also damaged the speed humps in the road and the council has said it will be coming in to fix them once Cable and Wireless leave.

A council spokesman said: " We expect companies to carry out their work with due regard to the highways. However accidents do happen."

Cable and Wireless is paying for the humps to be resurfaced.

A Cable and Wireless spokesman said: "We genuinely regret any inconvenience to householders while the road works are in progress. Safety is of paramount importance to us. If any utility is disrupted from our work we inform the relevant utility immediately."

Call Cable and Wireless on (0845) 6021945 with queries