Yorkshire Water is hoping to keep pipes blockage free this Christmas with its new way of cleaning them.

The company is working with Wrexham-based Whirlwind Utilities to clean sewers with a mix of air and water – the first time this technique has been used in the world – in readiness for the festive season.

The company says winter is the worst time of year for sewers being blocked by fats, oils and grease that people pour down the drain instead of putting in the bin.

In Yorkshire there were 22,000 blockages last year – nearly 6,000 of these over winter – which cost more than £8 million to clear.

Ross Housley of Yorkshire Water said: “Reducing the number of blockages in our sewers is a massive job and as well as asking our customers to do their bit by thinking carefully about what they are putting down their sinks and toilets. Over the next five years we're investing £180 million to improve the quality of our sewer network."