Sewage from an unfinished housing estate has leaked into a river after problems at a pumping station.

In 2009 promises were made that the flow of sewage into the River Tud would be stemmed from a faulty pumping station at Queen's Hills housing estate in Costessey.

But on Wednesday morning the pumping station on Sir Alfred Munnings Road was hit by a suspected power surge causing its pumps to stop working.

The Environment Agency confirmed today that sewage had leaked into the river but it did not pose a danger to wildlife, humans or the environment.

A spokesman said: 'We were called to reports of a broken pumping station at 11am on Wednesday, July 17. An environment officer attended and spoke to a contractor who was already on site to fix the problem.

'Sewage was seen to be coming out of a pumping station and a manhole cover on the other side of the road. The sewage ran down a slope and got into the River Tud.

'Our officer followed the sewage down the river and took samples, which showed that the sewage did not pose an immediate danger to wildlife or the environment.'

The agency said it would return to the river next week to assess the clean-up.

Queen's Hills developers were not available for comment.