WATER bosses have been urged to improve their record after launching a hosepipe ban while wasting 460 million litres of water in leaks every day.

The Consumer Council for Water said it expected United Utilities to be 'particularly active on leakage' in the light of the new restrictions.

United Utilities has one of the worst records in the UK on leakages with just two other firms across the UK losing more water per day.

Andrea Cook, chairman of the Consumer Council for Water's northern committee, said: "We have seen significant advances in companies meeting leakage targets and maintaining a good quality and consistent supply, but we expect companies to be particularly active on leakage at times of drought.

"We accept that this is an issue which can create strong feelings with some consumers.

"We will be monitoring United Utilities closely to ensure that their consumers are being well-served and given as much information as possible during and after the hosepipe ban."

In the North West almost one in every four litres of water that is supposed to come through our taps is lost. Only Thames Water and Severn Trent lose a greater volume, with Thames Water leaking 700million alone.

UU, which made a £500m pre-tax profit last year, said fixing leaks was one of its top priorities. It is investing £200million over the next five years on improving its pipe network.

According to figures from water industry regulator OFWAT, UU beat its leakage target by 5million litres a day last year.

A UU spokeswoman said: “Leaks are a major focus for us. We’re asking people to be water wise and we need to be water wise, too.

“We have halved the amount of leakage since the last drought in 1995/96.”

UU has seven million customers across the North West.