South West Water has refurbished or replaced 4,000 metres of sewer serving around 3,500 residents in the Okehampton area.

The scheme is part of a five-year £42 million investment in the sewer network across the region to renovate public sewers which have been identified as being at risk of collapse.

Work started in Okehampton on Sunday 11 July 2010 and finished earlier than planned on Thursday 19 August 2010.

It was planned with Devon County Council's highways department to take place during the summer holidays, to enable Mill Street to be used as a diversion route without the additional traffic to Okehampton College.

Project manager Stephen Cross said: "We'd like to thank all our customers for their patience during this essential work.

"Without investment, the sewer network would continue to deteriorate and this could lead to collapses – which cause pollution, flooding and odour.

"We worked closely with the Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade and Okehampton Town Council to support businesses and minimised disruption to the public as far as possible during the work."