People living on an Oxford estate are being plagued by foul-smelling sewers.

Residents of Ridgeway Road and Forest Road, in Risinghurst, said the stench coming from their sewers was so bad that at times they had to cover their noses - and it had been like this for the past six years.

Despite numerous calls to Thames Water, the problem has not been solved.

Joy Bull, 60, of Ridgeway Road, said: "At times the smell is absolutely awful and in the summer it tends to get worse. When there's heavy rain it can be bad as well.

"It's not nice when you've got people coming round and all they can smell is sewage.

"At first you think it might be your own drains, but then you speak to neighbours and you realise that everyone is saying the same."

Christine Barson, 61, of Forest Road, said: "It's been like this for the past five years. Some days it's so bad that we have to cover our noses it's that awful.

"It seems it's only round the junction where Ridgeway Road meets with Forest Road.

"I don't know what the cause is but something needs to be done about it."

Harry Josling, 55, said he first started noticing problems after Thames Water replaced sewers in Ridgeway Road and Forest Road.

Mr Josling, of Forest Road, said: "They replaced the drains about six years ago and ever since then we have had constant problems.

"My drains blocked up for the first time about three months after the work was done, and now every three months or so they get blocked up. There's obviously a problem with the system."

A Thames Water spokesman said there had been a number of reported blockages in both Ridgeway Road and Forest Road and that it planned to send engineers to carry out a deep clean of the sewers in the area.

Some residents feel the problem could be down to the rise in the number of houses of multiple occupancy and new flats on the estate.

Mrs Bull said: "More and more house are multiple occupancy or are being converted into flats, but no improvements are being made to accommodate this."

Gavin Day, 40, of Ridgeway Road, said: "If you cram people into an area and don't make any improvements to the amenities, then this is what happens.

"It's about time Thames Water started reinvesting some of their vast profits for the benefit of customers."

The Thames Water spokesman added: "While the engineers are carrying out a deep clean of the sewers they will carry out an investigation to see if there are any engineering issues that are causing a problem."