WATER meters are to be fitted in homes across Folkestone and Dover following a landmark ruling by the Government.

Householders will be forced to have meters, whether they want them or not, with the first compulsory ones to be installed by September.

Folkestone and Dover Water Services can compulsory meter all of its customers after DEFRA granted the company an application for "water scarcity status".

Managing director David Walton said the move was necessary as there is a water shortage and metering encourages people to be more conservative with their usage. He said this area has less rain than parts of the Middle East.

The company said of the 30,000 customers yet to get meters, around 70 per cent of these would see their bills decrease - but admitted 30 per cent would be worse off.

Following the DEFRA decision, which was announced on Wednesday morning, Mr Walton said: "This is very welcome news, we are very pleased with this decision."

The company aims to have 90 per cent of customers metered by 2015. The compulsory meters will be phased in.

Environment minister Elliot Morley said: "In many parts of the country water is a precious resource which we can no longer simply take for granted. Today’s decision is a considered response to the specific long term challenges facing the Folkestone and Dover water company; it is not a reaction to the short term problem of low rainfall in the south east of England."

The company supplies to 160,000 people and more than 69,000 households.

The 10 per cent of properties which won’t get the compulsory meters will include flats which have communal pipes and bedsits.