A GOVERNMENT Minister has been told by a Bolton MP to look at the renationalisation of the water industry.

Labour justice spokeswoman Yasmin Qureshi believe it is the only way to reduce leakage, keep household bills down, and tackle climate change.

The Bolton South-East MP has written to environment minister Therese Coffey urging the Conservative government to perform a U-turn on the issue.

Ms Qureshi said: "I believe we should replace our dysfunctional water system with a network of regional, publicly-owned water companies.

"The privatisation of water has not worked to deliver the benefits that were originally claimed.

"This has left customers paying high prices for worse services.

"The National Audit Office found that water bills increased by 40 per cent in the 25 years following privatisation.

" The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, meanwhile, has found that three billion litres of water are leaked every day."