The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Ms Voaden mentioned the issue in Kingsbridge during a Commons debate on the creation of an independent water commission that could replace current regulator Ofwat.

He described the problem as a “chronic problem” where sewage was floating on the town’s streets and said a solution was “desperately needed”.

He added: “In Kingsbridge residents are literally walking through sewage leaking through drains in heavy rain due to a mixture of increased sewage from new homes and older culverts failing to cope.

“It’s a review that won’t solve the problems they will face this winter, and I don’t think the commission will encourage these residents.”

South Hams District Council leader Julian Brazil said residents could refuse to pay water charges if SWW did not commit to a wholesale upgrade of the sewer network.