The wait is almost over to discover what Father Christmas has delivered this year, but spare a thought for those toys that end up being flushed down the loo, says Wessex Water.
During the year some of the nation’s most treasured toys have been fished out of the sewer system, including a headless Buzz Lightyear, Lightning McQueen and Nemo.
Incredibly, a child’s scooter has also been found down in the depths during the run-up to the big day.
Wessex Water has released images of some of the toys found, which include much-loved Disney characters.
Divisional waste manager Luke Beattie said: “Parents have probably hunted high and low for these ‘missing’ toys and are completely unaware that they’ve made their way into the sewerage network.
“While many will see the funny side, there’s a serious message here that items flushed down the loo can cause blockages and even internal sewage flooding.
“The same can be said for wet wipes, even those that are branded and marketed as ‘flushable’, which block pipes.
“We would remind everyone to ‘love your loo’ and only ever flush the three Ps – paper, poo and pee – to ensure you don’t face a blockage in your home.”
Wessex Water said it deals with 13,000 blockages every year in its region, and added that its staff would be working throughout the festive period dealing with blockages – some of which are expected to be caused by householders pouring turkey fat down the sink.
This year the company has stepped up its campaign against so called “flushable” wet wipes and called on manufacturers to change product labelling which it claims is misleading.
It also released a video showing what sewerage operators faced when dealing with blocked sewers. To see the video, visit www.wessexwater.co.uk/binit.