Higher water bills are given the go ahead

Households in the Dales are set for another squeeze on finances as price hikes on water bills are approved.

Figures from the water industry regulator Ofwat show that all customers served by Severn Trent will see an increase of 2.2 per cent on their water bill from April 2013.

As customers cannot choose their supplier, Ofwat tells firms how much they can raise their prices by. Its decision means that households across England and Wales will see average bills rise 3.5 per cent to £388 this year.

The news, on top of a wave of energy price rises, means households now face spending a record £1,740 a year on water, sewerage and energy combined, according to website uSwitch.