[kellyhound]

U.K Engineers recovered more than 5,000 pairs of undies and socks from the nation's pipes last year.

The garments were the fifth most common cause of blocked pipes and among hundreds of bizarre objects found including dead animals, garden furniture, fireworks, dog bowls, money and mobile phones.

Figures by home emergency experts HomeServe showed the most common causes of blockages were food and waste.

About 500,000 sewer blockages each year in the UK were caused by waste fat solidifying in pipes.

It was followed by children's toys, food packaging and underwear.

The company surveyed about 2,000 of the 65,000 customers whose drainage emergencies were serviced by HomeServe in 2010.

More than one in 20 callouts resulted in the discovery of a dead animal and almost as many man-hours were spent retrieving lost jewellery, including wedding rings that had fallen down a kitchen or bathroom plughole.

Steve Bailey, a HomeServe engineer from Liverpool, said: "You'd be surprised at some of the things I have found whilst servicing blocked pipes and drains over the years.

I once discovered a quarter of a chicken stuck in the U-bend of a toilet causing it to over flow.

"The customer had enjoyed a family barbeque the previous day, but was pretty bemused as to how it got there.

"You find children's toys all the time - it's amazing what fun kids can have with toilets."

[kandystar]

I wonder what it's like in the US, then.

[Karma]

So THAT'S what happens to my socks. I thought the washing machine was eating them. Always just one!!