THE City was last night awaiting Northumbrian Water's first interim half-year results, which are due to be released today.

The utility group returned to the London Stock Exchange after nearly a decade following a short spell on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim).

This month, it was given the provisional go-ahead to increase bills by 9.6 per cent by industry regulator Ofwat.

Bills will rise to an average of £225 from April next year for 2.6 million North-East customers.

Ofwat cost increases faced by the company were large enough to justify the rise in water and sewerage charges.

Shares closed at 108p, down 1p, at the close of trading last night .