The Scottish Socialist Party has proposed the scrapping of household water charges and the winding up of Scottish Water.

The party said the focus should be on making business pay for Scotland's water services and that the country's water authority would be replaced by an elected board.

The SSP has already announced that it will go into next year's Scottish parliamentary elections scrapping the council tax and replacing it with an income-based levy.

Tommy Sheridan: "Improving income"

Domestic charges would either be replaced by a levy on business turnover or a flat-rate scheme based on the rateable value of non-domestic businesses.

The SSP said it would announce further proposals for a water shake-up in its draft manifesto later this year.

As well as winding up Scottish Water, the party wants to see an end to public and private finance projects and al ban on private water companies from outside Scotland gaining access to the water network.

Party leader Tommy Sheridan said: "We believe in an independent socialist Scotland but it is also necessary to use the limited powers available to us now to tackle the shame of poverty and inequality which scars our country.

"Our new water charging scheme will operate alongside our replacement for the unfair council tax to improve the disposable income of millions throughout Scotland."