Scientists examine Sidmouth fatberg

The 64 metre mass was found in the town's sewers last year

Scientists from the University of Exeter have carried out a detailed investigation into a giant fatberg that formed underneath Sidmouth.

The 64 metre mass was found in the town's sewers last year, and it was as big as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Experts who analysed it say it was made up of hardened animal fat, wet wipes, bones and even false teeth.

Professor John Love, a Synthetic Biology expert at the University of Exeter and project lead, said: “We worried that the fatberg might concentrate fat-soluble chemicals such as those found in contraceptives, contain now-banned microplastic beads from cosmetics and be rich in potentially pathogenic microbes, but we found no trace of these possible dangers.

“We were all rather surprised to find that this Sidmouth fatberg was simply a lump of fat aggregated with wet wipes, sanitary towels and other household products that really should be put in the bin and not down the toilet.

“The microfibres we did find probably came from toilet tissue and laundry, and the bacteria were those we would normally associate with a sewer.”