Bosses at Yorkshire Water are urging customers to think twice when they clean up after a traditional Christmas dinner this year.

Deposits of cooking fats, oil and greases tipped down kitchen sinks and drains accounted for almost 35 per cent of the 17,000 sewer blockages removed by the Bradford-based company across Yorkshire this year.

Since 2005, Yorkshire Water has invested £200 million on improvement to sewage assets and the sewerage system but each year millions of pounds is spent clearing fat from the sewers of Yorkshire.

And with thousands of households across the region expected to enjoy turkey, duck and other Christmas favourites, the company is warning customers how tipping fat down the sink could come back to haunt them.

Fat, oils and grease get into the sewer system via the kitchen sink and appliances such as dishwashers and build up on the inside of the sewer pipe, reducing the flow capacity and leading to blockages.

In extreme situations, blockages can prevent wastewater from sinks and toilets leaving customers' pipes, leading to unpleasant smells and on rare occasions, flooding in homes and gardens.

For information, go to yorkshirewater.co.uk/dirty.