Students at the University of York are being called upon not to wash amid fears about possible back-flow in the sewers.

An e-mail has been sent to all departments urging students and staff to 'eliminate all unnecessary flushing' and to avoid using baths and showers because of flood and storm water coming into the sewers.

The email states: "The university currently has a major problem with the disposal of effluent.

"There is nowhere the effluent can be pumped to and this is creating a back-flow and we need to take immediate and serious action.

"If this situation becomes progressively worse, we will be forced to shut down water supplies across campus, maintaining only a few for health and hygiene reasons."

Flood water has filled an underground chamber which houses the university's pumping station and Yorkshire Water is working hard to drain the water out.

letters@ycp.co.uk