Water regulator Ofwat accepted a 15% rise from Severn Trent Water and people will have to pay just over �30 more.

The company said the new charges would help maintain a high standard of drinking water in the county and fund essential investment programmes.

It has earmarked �125m over five years to pay for projects including the maintenance of sewage works across the county and tackling nitrate in water.

Most of the new bills were sent out last month.