Southern Water boss handed £183,000 bonus despite huge rise in bills

Award for Lawrence Gosden comes after criticism of business plan and attempts to increase bills by 73%

• Every water firm in England and Wales under investigation over sewage spills

The chief executive of Southern Water has received a 183,000 bonus despite submitting a business plan that has been criticised by the industry regulator and attempting to raise bills more than any other English water company.

Lawrence Gosden received the bonus as part of a 764,000 pay package, up from 428,000 a year earlier, according to the company's annual report.