PARENTS, environmental groups and water companies have gone to war against the makers of "flushable" wet wipes, which are clogging up Dorset's toilets, drains and sewers.

A damning report has been presented to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that calls for a ban on the word “flushable” on the wipes, which do not break down like conventional toilet paper after going down the U-bend.

The complaint – which comes after the government confirmed plans to ban microbeads in cosmetic goods – is being led by Wessex Water and backed by City to Sea, Surfers Against Sewage, Marine Conservation Society and Litter Free Coast and Sea.

Wet wipes were responsible for more than 700 blockages in Dorset alone in the last five years. In addition, there are thousands more blockages on customers’ own drains each year.

Wet wipes, which are often branded as flushable, were responsible for more than two thirds of blockages in the west country region last year.

Dealing with wipes has become a full-time job for water companies, and Wessex Water this week released video footage of the grim blockages one of its staff encountered in the space of a few hours.

The company has already written to supermarkets and manufacturers, urging them to market the products more responsibly, and it regularly urges its customers to “love your loo” by only flushing the three Ps – paper, poo and pee.

Matt Wheeldon, director of assets and compliance for Wessex Water, said: “We frequently hear from customers who have flushed wipes which have then caused a blockage. As a result they have had their garden flooded with sewage and, in worst case scenarios, their homes flooded.

“These wipes are marketed as flushable but often we find they simply don’t break down and cause blockages.”

Environmental charities Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society – plus Litter Free Coast and Sea and City2Sea – have also signed the letter to the ASA, which calls for an end to “misleading” branding and packaging.

Wet wipes do not disintegrate in the same way as ordinary toilet paper after flushing. They can consequently block pipes or end up at the sewage treatment plant, where they have to be fished out.

Dr Laura Foster, MCS head of pollution, added: “Wet wipes cause thousands of blockages every year. To find out that retailers are selling wet wipes labelled as flushable but yet contribute to this massive problem of blockages – causing costs both directly through blocked drains under property but also through increased water bills – is unacceptable."

Watch the video by Wessex Water facebook.com/wessexwater/