Council is shamed over water bill

Dudley council was today shamed over its £110,000-a-year bill for bottled water amid a national row over the industry. But council bosses have hit back by saying the figures are incorrect.

They added they spend no more than other authorities.

The row broke out as a Government minister described the bottled water industry as bordering on the morally unacceptable.

Environment Minister Phil Woolas questioned why Britons drank millions of litres of bottled water every day when safe tap water was available everywhere.

In tonight's BBC Panorama programme, Dudley council is highlighted as one of the biggest spenders on bottled water.

But council bosses have hit back at the accusation saying the figures are incorrect and they spend no more than other authorities.

The spotlight fell on Dudley after a freedom of information request by the BBC.

The council says the £110,000 figure quoted is inaccurate, and in fact only £32,500 is actually spent on bottles of water. The authority also said its figure was in line with other councils in the Black Country.