A headless mannequin and a dead tarantula are some of the Halloween horrors that have been found in the Severn Trent network.

The water company discovered the unusual items during its annual Unblocktober campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of proper waste disposal.

The headless mannequin, which initially gave the crew a scare, was found while clearing a large outfall grate.

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After the initial shock, the team "rescued" the torso and took it for recycling.

Other bizarre objects included animal bones, apples, and even Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

These objects, along with other unusual items such as a fake skull and a doll's head, contribute to the thousands of blockages that the company has to clear each year.

The company's waste crews managed to clear 28,782 blockages, which could have been avoided if the correct items were disposed of properly.

These blockages have the potential to cause serious problems, including sewage backing up and flooding customers’ homes and gardens.

Grant Mitchell, blockages lead for Severn Trent, said: "We know highlighting some of the weird, and just in time for Halloween creepy things, that we have found causing blockages or that have made their way through the network can provide a chuckle or funny moment, but it always comes with an important message.

"Only the three P’s - pee, poo and toilet paper - should be flushed down the toilet and fats, oils and greases should never be poured down the sink as they can cause huge issues for our network and in turn, our customers.

"By us all doing our part and working together, we can cut down the number of blockages that happen, prevent nasty flooding, and make sure our sewers are as healthy as they possibly can be."

Wet wipes, kitchen roll, cotton buds, nappies, and sanitary products are some of the major culprits behind the blockages, as they do not break down like toilet paper.

When these are combined with fats, oils, and greases, they form fatbergs.

Around two-and-a-half tonnes of wipes and other non-flushable items are removed from the sewers each year.