THE number of customers cut off by North West Water for not paying their bills increased last year.

Supplies were cut off to 490 homes - that is two in every 10,000 households. In 1994-95 only 451 homes had supplies disconnected.

Cut-offs at non-domestic premises also increased by 76pc to 349.

Both increases went against the national trend which saw household disconnections fall from 10,047 to 5,826 and non-domestic cut-offs drop from 2,785 to 1,996. Director General of Ofwat Ian Byatt said: "Water companies have been listening to customers' views on how they want to pay their bills.

"Companies should continue to offer every assistance to customers having difficulty and disconnection should only be a last resort."

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