CHIPPENHAM NEWS: WATER bosses are trying to discover why shops on Chippenham High Street were flooded by sewage.

A river of raw sewage affected seven shops and fabric shop Roseby's will be closed for over three weeks to undergo a refit.

On Sunday experts from Wessex Water carried out an investigation into the town centre sewerage system.

A spokesman for Wessex Water said: "Wessex Water carries out sewerage checks every six months, it was just coincidence that we were in the High Street at the weekend so soon after the floods.

"But we are currently investigating why the flooding took place. It may be caused by the recent pedestrianisation of the High Street and we are trying to discover who is responsible."

The flood forced shops to close following a thunderstorm and torrential downpour last Tuesday afternoon and has left many traders counting the cost.

A spokesman for Roseby's said: "The store has been closed as a result of the flooding. It will be refitted but we do not know when it will re-open.

"We are not prepared to say how much money we are going to lose at this stage but we are having a full refit."