A POPULAR pub boss is digging his heels in after being hit with a gas bill for almost £2,000.

Bob Turner says the bill, for just two months gas supply to his pub, the Britannia, on Lancaster's Ullswater Road, is way over the top.

And he is now warning other people to be careful when they choose their suppliers.

Mr Turner engaged Total Gas Supplies when he moved into the Britannia in July 2004. There was no supply at the time in the pub and Mr Turner now regrets the move.

"The gas is only for the pub itself, not for the flat upstairs, and in the summer the bill is around £80 a month just for the hot water so I know it is not cheap but this bill is ridiculous," he says.

"I have always paid on time but at the back end of last year I changed my bank and Total Gas said I missed a payment.

"That has been sorted out now after a lot of arguments but this latest bill is outrageous."

Mr Turner was stunned when he opened his bill and had to sit down with a strong coffee when he say a figure of £1,984.34. Also in the post was another bill for £1,044.74.

A day later, the publican received a credit note from the company for £1,214.84.

"It is very confusing and I don't know which bill to pay," adds Mr Turner. "I have tried to speak to the company and sort this out amicably but we ended up arguing.

"I made them an offer of £100 a week on top of the bill but they have declined that and now I don't think I am going to pay.

"They say they are going to take the meter out later this month and I can't wait.

"I would certainly advise people to be very careful choosing a gas supplier."

A spokesman for Total Gas Supplies said the company would not comment on individual cases.