Severn Trent serves eight million customers

In the six months to the end of September it made a pre-tax profit of �149.5m, down 6.4% on the same period a year earlier.

While the full cost of reacting to the flooding was unclear, the bill had so far reached �18.2m, the company said.

And it praised a "magnificent response" which saw water supplies restored to all homes within 17 days.

The firm said that it was continuing to assess long-term damage to more than 150 waste water sites in the flooded areas - which included Gloucestershire, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury

But it added it stood by earlier estimates of the final bill for costs linked to the flooding being between �25m and �35m.

It said it hoped to be able to recover between �10m and �20m from its insurance.

Underlying profits before tax in the period rose 13.5% to hit �161.5 up from �142.3m.