SEWAGE tankers were brought into Marlow as a pumping station struggled to handle “exceptionally high” water levels following flooding last week.

The Thames burst its banks leaving the Higginson Park towpath totally submerged and parts of Gossmore Lane recreation ground under two feet of water.

Thames Water called in the vehicles to remove waste water from the overloaded Riverswood pumping station in Gossmore Lane, Marlow, saying it was concerned about pollution.

However, residents were unhappy about noise and disturbance caused by the pumps.

Peter Donegan, of Gossmore Walk, Marlow said the tankers had been giving him and his neighbours sleepless nights.

“The pumps are going through most of the night and most of the day and it has been disturbing everybody. All the residents have been affected by it,” he said.

“Why is it necessary to have these big tankers when the flooding isn't nearly as bad as before?”

Thames Water spokesman Simon Evans said: "To avoid pollution of nearby water courses, we are currently having to use tankers to take waste water away from Riverswood pumping station.

"This is because exceptionally high ground water levels caused by recent heavy rainfall are currently too much for the pumping station to cope with.

“We apologise for the noise and disruption caused by the tankering."

He added that Thames Water is looking at alternative positions for the tankers to minimise disturbance to householders but it is not known when they will be removed.