A pipe that had been leaking sewage for weeks was due to be repaired today.

According to Epping Forest District Council, the pipe near flats at Oakfields, off Alderton Hall Lane in Loughton, was damaged when National Grid Gas engineers were working on it in mid-January.

Resident David Childs, 66, contacted the Guardian after living with the stink since then and the council, which is the site’s landlord, said a temporary repair had been done.

A spokeswoman added: “Epping Forest District Council received a complaint about a sewage leak to our out-of-hours service on 22 February.

“A council plumber attended the site on the same day. He was able to confirm that the pipe is on housing land.

“However, having visited the site again today, National Grid Gas engineers confirmed that they had been working on site and following some damage had carried out a temporary repair.

“A permanent repair will be completed today.”