UK water companies receive record sewage leak fines

Firms face tougher penalties aimed at reducing the number of pollution offences

Water companies have been hit by a series of record fines for major sewage leaks and other pollution incidents.

Yorkshire Water was fined 1.1m for illegally discharging sewage that polluted the river Ouse near York, while Thames Water was fined 1m for repeated sewage leaks into the Grand Union canal.