FURIOUS residents say sewage and human waste was spotted pouring from drains in a busy high street.

The waste was spotted near shops in Rayleigh High Street.

Residents have blasted authorities as they claim they are not acting.

Pictures taken by the angry residents show areas of pavements near Iceland and charity shops covered in brown waste.

Rob Webb, 50, said: “I’ve never known anything like it before in my life.

“Especially in today’s world this is so unacceptable and I don’t understand why it hasn’t been sorted yet.

“There are people and children walking through this area on a very regular basis.

“It is so dangerous – it can spread diseases and just doesn’t bear thinking about, to be honest.

“It almost feels like early Victorian times when there was waste laying in the street.”

Carole Cox, 35, said something needs to be sorted very soon.

She said shoppers and residents have been talking about the issue.

The concerned mother said: “We can’t be having these sort of issues.

“I am also very worried about the impact of this on our lovely high street.

“I would hate it if people felt they could not come to the town for shopping any more due to this horrid problem.

“I just don’t understand why this is happening in today’s world. We need this sorted as soon as possible. We deserve so much better than this.”

Shoppers said it spreads and is starting to smell.

A spokesman for Rochford District Council said: “The Council was made aware of an issue with a drain in Rayleigh High Street and an officer subsequently visited the site.

"The managing agents have since been contacted to rectify the issue and the council has arranged for the alleyway to be jet washed."