BEMUSED Michael Parkinson was left wondering which tap he had left running by mistake when he was hit with a water bill for - £16,648.03!

The single 62-year-old received the demand from United Utilities for water consumption at his two-bedroomed terraced home in Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen.

And he immediately thought it was joke when he saw it was dated April 1, even though it had only landed on his mat recently.

Today he received an apology from United Utilities after they blamed human error.

When Michael first tried to contact United Utilities to discuss the bill - slightly higher than last year's bill of £84 - he claims he was told by the call centre they couldn't discuss it over the phone because of the data protection act!

Mr Parkinson said: "I've got the Fishmoor Reservoir beyond my back garden so I thought at first I had been billed for that as well!

"I just laughed when I saw it, because there was no way it could possibly be accurate.

"I suppose it is just as well I have a sense of humour, because I'm sure it could have done more damage to someone with a weak heart.

"It was slightly less amusing when I rang up the call centre and they said, because I couldn't remember the exact date I made my last payment, they couldn't discuss it with me because it breached the data protection act!"

United Utilities, formerly North West Water, did give him the chance to pay the bill over two instalments, however.

A spokesman for United Utilities today moved to reassure Mr Parkinson that the problem was investigated.

He said: "It appears to be a case of human error. Someone has sent out a bill based on old figures, and used details of a factory which used to be nearby.

"We have sent Mr Parkinson a new bill and a letter of apology for any inconvenience it may have caused. That is the least we could do.

"We are trying to make sure the error cannot happen again."