Thames Water reports profits boom despite surge in burst pipes during drought

Also under fire for sewage discharges and executive pay, company makes first-half profits of almost 500m

Thames Water has reported a boom in first-half profits to almost 500m, despite a surge in the number of burst pipes during the drought across the UK over the summer.

The company, which instituted a hosepipe ban from August to September amid the summer heatwave, said the rise in leakage and supply interruptions due to mains bursting was the result of hot weather and dry ground".