CONSUMER watchdogs last night attacked a proposed rise in water bills for North-East customers.

Northumbrian Water was yesterday provisionally given a 9.6 per cent increase in bills by the industry regulator Ofwat.

Bills will rise by £19 to an average of £225 from April next year.

Ofwat said a leap in costs faced by Northumbrian Water - which serves 2.6 million customers in the North-East - was substantial enough to justify the rise in water and sewerage charges.

But campaign group Water Watch said the rise was far too high and said the company was allowed "feather-bed" protection against its costs.

Northumbrian Water cit-ed increasing customer debt for the rise and said forced changes in the monitoring of water quality had been a factor.

It was also able to demonstrate to Ofwat that a reduction in demand for water from that originally forecast in 1999 had led to lower revenue and a "substantial effect" on its business.

Companies are allowed to ask Ofwat to look again at their price limits if circumstances have changed since their last price review, which in this case covered the period 2000 to 2005.

Households have been braced for higher bills following Ofwat's review covering the period 2005 to 2010 which said that bills could rise by as much as 30 per cent.

Any increases for North-umbrian Water customers for that period will take into account yesterday's proposed hike, Ofwat said.

Philip Fletcher, director general of water services, said: ''I regret the need for an increase, but I have a responsibility to ensure that efficient water companies can finance the services they provide to customers.''

Northumbrian Water said that even after the proposed increase, which is subject to consultation, customers would still be paying about £16 less than they did in April 2000.

Pete Bowler, of Water Watch, said: "This increase is an extremely high figure and shows that there is far too much protection for what are after all commercial companies.

"The reality is that they face no risk whatsoever and can fall back on a financial regulatory system which protects their income and profits and allows them to pass on their costs to customers."

* Customers who wish to make representations about the rise can write to WaterVoice, Northumbria, c/o Eighth Floor, Northgate House, St Augustine's Way, Darlington DL1 1XA.