Water pilot is praised as success

Families found changing to a water meter was beneficial

A pilot project has shown poorer people can pay their water bills if they claim their benefits and switch to a meter.

More than 500 households in Devon and Cornwall took part in a two-year Defra-commissioned study to identify water affordability.

Phil Woolas, Local Government Minister, said: "Water bill payers across England could benefit from the findings."

Water users taking part in the efficiency measures also benefited from reduced bills.

The project found people had not necessarily claimed all the benefits they were entitled to and the extra money combined with using water meters helped pay the bills.