WRITTEN complaints against United Utilities have plunged by 16 per cent over a year says a consumer organisation for the water industry.

The figures were published in the Consumer Council for Water’s annual report for complaints on Thursday - the figures are based on 2019-20.

The firm was one of four water firms to be singled out by council as ‘leading the way’ in performance on customer complaint handling.

United Utilities customer and people director Lou Beardmore said: “We are acutely aware of our purpose in delivering essential services that seven million people across the north west rely on every day.

"Getting things right first time, or acting quickly to put things right on the rare occasions we don’t, is one of our most important aims as a business.”