A NORTH West water watchdog has slammed proposals to increase local water bills by up to 40 per cent as unaffordable and unacceptable.

WaterVoice North West was responding to United Utilities' plans for the next five years, published yesterday, which could see the average water and sewerage bill rise by over £100 by the end of 2010.

United Utilities said it would be looking at a 7.8 per cent a year rise, with much of the increase coming in the next two years.

All water companies have submitted their final business plans for 2005-10 to water regulator Ofwat, which will make its final decision on price limits in December this year. WaterVoice North West is urging customers to use this opportunity to express support or opposition to the proposed increases.

Maurice Terry, chairman of WaterVoice North West, said: "The increase is somewhat lower than originally suggested by United Utilities last summer.

"However, we believe customers will be dismayed by the size of the proposed increase and by the government's apparent failure to take account of their views in determining the scale of the environmental programme for the region.

"North West customers have already seen their water and sewerage bills rise by an average 12 per cent this year. They may now face further double digit increases in the next two years."

United Utilities said it needed to increase bills to fund £3.2bn of investment.