Southern Water customers 'disgusted' by bill hike

Southern Water customers have expressed their "shock and disgust" at recent increases to their water bills.

Working families from Kent and Sussex told the BBC the rise was forcing them to bath their children less and slash spending beyond basic necessities, while one mother-of-two said the water supplier warned her about bailiffs when she asked for bill .

It comes as Southern Water increased bills by an average of 47% from 1 April - the highest of any British supplier.

Antonia Barton, Southern Water's chief customer officer, said bigger bills were never welcome, but added communities had told the company it needed to invest more to deliver "real change".

She added water costs had been "kept artificially low for too long".

Natalie, a teacher from Chichester, told the BBC her water bill has jumped from £433 to what she called a "staggering" £675.

The mother of an eight-month-old baby and five-year-old son said she is stressed about finding the extra money as she is currently on maternity leave and will lose her statutory maternity pay next month.

"I can't make any of my other bills cheaper. I can't reduce the weekly food shop... so it means I won't be able to do as much with the children," she said.

"We can't afford to go anywhere."

She claimed when she called Southern Water in tears asking about possible she was warned if the bill was not paid it could lead to debt arrears and bailiffs.

"It was scaremongering," she said. "I felt backed into a corner, like I had no choice."

Natalie said the "crazy thing" was that despite she and her husband being working professionals with full-time jobs it was still difficult to pay for the "basics in life".

"How are we in a position as a country where paying for clean water is a struggle":[]}