Latest (I could have kept a blog realy!). He couldn't get access to the main sewer but checked if the neighbours had problems and seeing as they didn't he has assumed it is before the swere and excavated down to the drain. Just waiting for the sludge gulper to drain the hole so he can access the drain itself. Very neat job of the hole and he has managed to salvage most of the quarry tiles so we can relay them.

There was some brickwork down there so it could have possibly been an inspection chamber. No tree root damage he can see but we will still get rid of the laburnum and caster oil trees anyway. Looks like we will have functional drainage before the day is out and he will backfill the hole with earth - I will decide whether to re-lay concrete and tiles when it has settled or whether to try and re-instate a manhole if possible.

No complaints about the work done so far apart from they should realy have done the survey when they first spotted it years ago. He did mention that it looks like nappy liners could have contributed to the problem. So much for flushable - Be warned!

Watch this space...

DeG