Water company Severn Trent has been criticised over its treatment of people affected by a burst water main.

The burst resulted in gas supplies being cut in 1,800 homes for up to five days in December.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz has told parliament Severn Trent "is unwilling to take responsibility for its failures".

However the company insists it has done everything it could for those who lost supplies.

We have done everything we can to help people during what was an unforeseeable incident Severn Trent spokesman

Mr Vaz said Transco, the gas supplier, pumped out more than 200,000 gallons of water from its system and paid �250,000 in statutory compensation.

"We know that the water came from Severn Trent.

"Last year, the company had profits of �357.4m, yet it has offered not a penny in compensation."

Mr Vaz also said Severn Trent had recently funded a party for MPs.

"It organised a party in a banqueting room for Members of this House... it must have cost a bit.

Hot meals

"The people (of my constituency) do not want a party from Severn Trent; they want compensation for the loss and distress that the company has caused."

A Severn Trent spokesman said �30 a day in compensation had been paid to affected householders and it was between the gas and water firms to sort out liability.

Severn Trent is also processing claims for damaged appliances and had paid for hot meals during the gas cuts.

"We have done everything we can to help people during what was an unforeseeable incident," the spokesman said.