A LANDSLIP has damaged a sewerage pipe on Portland.

A boulder from the slip smashed into the sewerage pipe and caused damage to it on Sunday. Service provider Wessex Water said the pipe is still connected to the sewer system but has been damaged.

The company said that the sewer service for residents continues as normal and have brought in tankers to “intercept and manage flows upstream of the damaged pipe.”

Residents should "not notice any change to their normal service," the company said.

The slip happened close to the old railway line underneath the HMP and YOI Portland. The footpaths have been closed off around the landslip.

Wessex Water said there was a “minimal leak to the pipe,” but that it is being "contained to minimise any risk of pollution."

The company added that they were working closely with the Environment Agency on the incident. A spokesman for Wessex Water said that as well as informing the Environment Agency about the damaged pipe, they were working closely with Natural England.

He said: “Our above-ground combined sewer has been damaged by the landslide but sewerage services to our customers continue as normal.

“Tankers are located at various locations to intercept and manage flows upstream of the damaged pipe.”

The spokesman added: “Our priority at the moment is maintaining sewerage services to our customers.

"Residents don’t need to do anything and they shouldn’t notice any change to their usual service.”

Wessex Water said the footpath had been closed for safety reasons to protect both the general public and Wessex Water staff.

The company said it was too early to say how long repairs would take as access was “extremely difficult.”

The Environment Agency said they had been informed by Wessex Water of the incident.

A spokesman said: “The Environment Agency is working with Wessex Water to assess the situation with the shattered sewer pipe and to ensure that any flows are diverted away and don’t go into the ground or the sea.”