Scottish water workers clear Spiderman t-shirt blocking pump after being flushed down toilet

Scottish water workers were left bemused after swinging into action over complaints regarding a blocked pump – when the source was discovered to be a Spiderman t-shirt which had been flushed down a toilet.

Waste treatment engineers said they were met with the “ragged” item of clothing entangled in a web of wipes and “other items which should not have been flushed” at the pumping station near Dalmellington in East Ayrshire.

It came after they were alerted to an obstruction by a friendly neighbourhood individual – whose identity has been kept a secret.

Scottish Water said it clears up to 36,000 blockages in the drainage system every year.

Bosses have now warned the public against flushing “inappropriate” items down toilets, adding the public had great power and great responsibility over the it is used.

Waste water team leader, Ross Graham, said: “Why anyone would think it was a good idea to flush an item of clothing down the toilet is beyond me.

“This could have had serious implications on our sewer network, not to mention the environmental impact it could have had if a sewer had become blocked and burst as a result.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous and meant that resources and time were wasted having to deal with it.”