Children 'living in sewer' in Washington state

Workers find clothes, toys and food 14-feet underground

After lifting up an 80-pound manhole cover workers found clothes, toys and food (Kiro 7/screengrab)

Two children appear to have been found living in the sewers in Washington state.

After lifting up an 80-pound manhole cover, Lakehaven Utility District workers found clothes, toys and food 14-feet underground.

One of two boys aged around 13 were reportedly spotted indicated the pair were living in the sewer system.

The discovery was made after meter readers spotted the manhole cover slightly open. They closed it and came back later to find it had been opened again, Kiro 7 reported.

Ken Miller, an engineering manager, said he had never seen anything like it in his 30 years of work.

“This should not happen at all," Miller told Kiro 7. "This is where all our waste goes from our houses and our businesses.

"No one should be down there ... this could have been life and death."

He also warned there was likely to be vermin and very limited oxygen in the sewer.

Neighbours say they noticed the manhole cover slightly open for at least the past month and another claimed to have seen children running back and forth.