YORKSHIRE Water is fighting the fat.

The company has urged restaurants and takeaways not to pour fat or grease down the drains.

The warning follows two sewer flooding incidents in South Yorkshire which were caused by blockages of fat in the main sewer.

In both cases, the fat was traced back to commercial kitchens.

Graham Dixon, waste water director for Yorkshire Water, said it costs the company £3m a year to clear such blockages.

He stressed that most businesses were careful about what they put down the sewers.

But he said: "Many businesses are not aware that they can be prosecuted for not disposing of their fats and grease correctly.

"It's not just about keeping costs down, it's equally important that we do all we can to prevent environmental damage."

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Water advised catering establishments to leave fat to harden so it could be thrown out with solid rubbish.

She said: "We are not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, but the consequences of these incidents can be appalling.

"It often affects the business's own pipes worst of all because the fat doesn't usually get far in the system before a blockage occurs."