RAW sewage bubbling up from the grounds of flats in north London has been left to fester for more than two weeks because of confusion over who is responsible for it.

The sewage has been flowing from Seymour House, in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, down a bank and seeping under the front door of neighbouring office block Thurlstone House.

Tim Hibbs, 28, who works in Thurlstone House for his family's company which produces funeral stationary, said: "It makes me feel physically sick when I come up here, it smells so bad because it's raw sewage. It is a health hazard but nothing is being done. Customers sometimes visit, about one or two a day. These are bereaved people visiting us and to be confronted with the sight of all this sewage running down the front of the building is just not nice."

His mother, Pam Hibbs, who runs the business with her husband, Ron, added: "Raw sewage should be dealt with within 48 hours according to the Haringey Council's own rules, but it's been weeks. There is all sorts in it, tampons and such, so it is definitely raw. I hope they do clear it up."

Thames Water has visited the site twice, but denied responsibility because the land is privately owned.

A council spokesman said: "It has taken some time to establish that this is a private drain, as well as the ownership of the private land from which the sewage is emanating. We apologise to Mr and Mrs Hibbs for the delays in resolving this problem.

"However, ownership of the site has now been established and we have served legal notice against the owners to repair the private sewer. If this is not completed within 48 hours (from Tuesday), then we will clear the sewage ourselves and charge the owners."