From Christmas trees and bags of coal to offal — the items clogging up Ireland's drains

Uisce Éireann estimates 175 tonnes of wipes and ‘clogging items’ are removed per month. Picture: Irish Water

Christmas trees, bags of coal, and children’s tricycles — not the shopping list for the festive season but just some of the items that Uisce Éireann has found down the nation’s drains.

Other items which have caused major blockages to the country’s sewerage system — and which were clearly thrown into drains deliberately — include concrete blocks, tyres, beachballs, and even offal.