A metre-high mass of congealed wet wipes on the banks of the Thames weighing 180 tonnes is being removed after growing to the size of two tennis courts. Loading audio...

The mound is located on the bank near Barnes, in the section of the Thames that runs through Hammersmith.

The huge blockage has been worsening by the day, with the situation becoming so bad that it spurred MPs to advise people against flushing the wipes down the toilet.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has said it will get rid of around 180 tonnes of congealed wet wipes - with removal work already started.

Paul's School in Barnes is allowing access to its grounds so an eight-tonne excavator can remove the "island", which reaches up to 1m (3ft) high in parts.

Wet wipes and other pollutants would thrown into skips an

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