Water bills in the North West are likely to surge by around 6.5 per cent as customers pay for environmental works to improve the quality of beaches, rivers and drinking water.

Around £3 billion has been spent by United Utilities on improve-ments in the region - higher than any other area - and the cost is now beginning to filter through.

Watchdog group Water Voice will consider details of the planned increases at a meeting in Man-chester today (Thursday).