A ROAD sweeping firm has been hit with a £6,455.20 fine after pleading guilty to illegally taking water from Severn Trent on four occasions, including once in Bromsgrove.

National Road Sweepers Ltd, from Whaddon Farm in Leighton Buzzard, was prosecuted at Leicester Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to illegal hydrant use.

The firm was caught twice across Leicestershire and once in Warwick and in Bromsgrove.

Dan Littlewood, from Severn Trent, said: “We’re really happy with the outcome today, as it’s just not right that these companies believe they’re above the law.

“Our customers have to pay for water, so they should to and not only are they not paying for it, there’s also the chance that they can cause the water supply to be murky or even cause our customers to have no water at all, which just isn’t fair.

“Whether it’s for cooking, cleaning or just having a cup of tea, it’s really important that water’s there when you need it.

“It’s also important to remember that the Fire and Rescue service also relies on our hydrants being available in an emergency, and people using them illegally can result in the hydrants breaking and, if that happens, it could put lives at risk."