A BILL to safeguard water supplies and reduce waste has been backed by an East Lancashire MP.

Janet Anderson, MP for Darwen and Rossendale, has formally supported the introduction of the Water Conservation Bill.

The bill proposes the introduction of new leakage targets for water companies and encourages the use of water-efficient devices in the home.

The proposed legislation also advocates the review of abstraction licences which may damage important wildlife sites; introduces greater choice in paying by metering and obliges water companies to help customers install water-saving fittings.

Mrs Anderson said: "Last summer's drought brought home to us that water is a precious resource which should not be wasted.

"The provisions of this bill would do much to cut wastage and reduce the threat of water abstraction from our most important wetland wildlife sites."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.