Water bills - and the problems people in Deal have paying them - was the topic of conversation when shadow secretary for DEFRA paid a surprise visit to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Maria Eagle visited staff and volunteers as soon as the Victoria Road branch opened after the Christmas break this morning (Monday).

She asked manager Jan Stewart and service manager Andrew Hitchcock about the difficulties residents experience. They agreed no option to shop around, and confusion about what we are billed for is the biggest complaint.

Mrs Eagle, the former Department for Work and Pensions minister and Labour MP for Garston and Halewood, said: “It was clear from my meeting at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Deal that the rising cost of water is adding to the cost of living crisis and that the water companies are not doing enough to help hard pressed consumers.

“The average water bill has gone up 12.5% since 2010 and although some companies, such as Affinity Water, have introduced social tariffs, it is clear that there is still much more to be done."

For the full story, see the Mercury on Thursday