Revealed: watchdogs and water bosses had dinner at private London club to discuss future

Exclusive: Meal attended by Environment Agency and Ofwat chairs attacked as outrageous example of regulatory capture'

Water company bosses and the chairs of the regulator Ofwat and the Environment Agency went for dinner at an exclusive private members' club to discuss how to quell public anger over bill rises and sewage spills, the Guardian can reveal.

Campaigners have said the private meeting is an outrageous example of regulatory capture" as Ofwat and the Environment Agency are supposed to hold water companies to account, rather than help with their public relations.