Thames Water notched up penalties of around £50 million last year as the business performed poorly on customer experience and flooded sewers.

The utility company said it had been handed £51.9 million in penalties, while only getting rewards of £3.27 million.

Water companies that have monopolies in their local area are given rewards or penalties based on their performance, under criteria agreed with regulator Ofwat.

Thames Water said it had met 26 of the 49 performance commitments that were assessed this year.