An MP has labelled Southern Water as “scandalous” after the firm asked the water regulator for permission to charge customers more.

Southern Water are one of six firms asking the water regulator Ofwat to allow them to increase water bills for customers across Hampshire.

Customers of Southern Water are already set to see bills rise by 46 per cent this April, with Eastleigh MP for the Liberal Democrats, Liz Jarvis, saying it is “not good enough,” and has called for Ofwat to be replaced with a new regulator.

In a statement, the MP for Eastleigh said: “It is scandalous that debt riddled water companies demand higher bills from customers, while they continue to pump gallons of disgusting sewage into British seas and rivers.

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“Ofwat has failed to hold water companies accountable for their financial and environmental mismanagement.

“The government must knuckle down and replace Ofwat with a new regulator that has real power to ensure customers are not having to foot the bill for water company failures.”

She added: "I will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect customers from failing water companies like Southern Water and urge the government to reform the defunct water industry so that it works for customers, companies and the environment."

Southern Water CEO Lawrence Gosden said: "The Final Determination would not enable us to deliver the environmental and performance improvements and new infrastructure that our customers and communities rightly expect. "