THAMES Water customers can expect to see little or no change in their bills for 2017/18, after annual prices were announced yesterday.

The average bill across Swindon for combined water and wastewater services remains the third cheapest in England and Wales at £374 – up less than 15p a month from last year. This new charge also accounts for inflation (2.2 per cent), so is a slight drop in real terms.

Thames Water chief executive Steve Robertson said: “This will be welcome news for our customers, who will be relieved to know there will be no surprises in their bill for water and sewerage services over the next year.

“It’s fantastic we’re able to continue to invest £20m a week improving service for around the same charge, which is already one of the cheapest in the country.

“However, we understand there are many struggling to pay and that’s why we have a range of different options available to help.

“All we ask is that those customers get in touch so we can work out the best way to support them.”

It means Thames Water bills have changed by less than the rate of inflation since 2015, on average, despite the company spending £1bn on improving services every year for the last 11 years.

Nationally, the average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales for the coming financial year will be £395 – an increase of £6, or two per cent, compared with 2016/17.