Raw sewage leaking from a flowerbed at a new block of flats in Ashford is causing a stench in the town centre.

It is coming from the Stour Heights development, next to The Panorama building, which only welcomed its first residents in July.

It appears a manhole cover in the flowerbed facing towards Wellesley Road has overflowed, causing the blockage and spilling onto the ring road and pavement.

Engineers from Southern Water have been at the scene today trying to fix the problem.

Ted Prangnell first noticed the "inches deep" spillage yesterday when he walked into town from his home in Kennington.

"I was going to go up the high street for a bit of exercise when I came across this awful smell," the 87-year-old said.

"It wasn't obvious what it was until I got closer.

"You can see toilet paper and all sorts, it was bubbling out the manhole and was a couple of inches deep.

"I wonder, now the development is starting to fill up with residents, if the pressure in the sewage system is too much."

The flats, which were built alongside neighbouring Somerset Heights, cost the council £18.5 million.

A large proportion of the 109 lettings were allocated to key workers, honouring a pledge made when Ashford Borough Council (ABC) acquired the homes from developer Dukelease last autumn.

In a statement, Southern Water said the blockage occurred "as a result of building works debris entering the network".

"Some wastewater backed up out of the pipe and onto the road," a spokeswoman said.

"While this was a private network issue Southern Water attended to assist with clearing the pipe and cleaning up – this has now been completed."

ABC has been approached for comment.