Shakespeare Street businesses forced to close after drain overflows with raw sewage

A number of businesses on Shakespeare Street have temporarily closed after raw sewage erupted from an overflowing drain.

Early morning downpours have flooded utility drains along the street, pumping out raw waste.

When contacting United Utilities, business owners were told that they could be facing a two day wait for the mess to be cleared.

Though the rain is expected to clear briefly this afternoon, Southport remains under a Yellow Weather Warning for thunderstorms, with the Met Office predicting rain in the town through most of Friday and all of Saturday and Sunday.

Sewage treatment is an important part of the work done by the clean up team.