Sweeper sprays filth over people

A council road sweeper covered a street in Cambridgeshire with filth - after spraying waste from his truck instead of sucking it up.

Dozens of cars, houses and people were left covered in waste after the driver failed to close a waste water flap at the rear of the vehicle in Wisbech.

The driver, who was on his first day at work, only realised his mistake when a motorist drove in front of him.

Fenland District Council has apologised and offered compensation to victims.

'Incredibly apologetic'

Catherine Higgins, 31, was splattered from head-to-foot as she waited to cross the road on Monday.

She said: "I was going shopping and I had to come home because I was covered in this muck.

"People had their faces covered and their clothes. It wasn't very nice."

The road sweeper, who was unaware of his mistake, only came to a stop when Mrs Higgins' husband Rob drove his car in front of the road sweeper.

A spokesman for Fenland District Council said: "We are really sorry about what happened. It was an accident and accidents happen.

"The road sweeper was incredibly apologetic when he realised what had happened."

He added: "We would ask anyone who has got damaged clothes to contact the council and we will pay for any cleaning bills."