YORKSHIRE Water’s decision to impose a hosepipe ban has been branded “outrageous” by trade union GMB after the utility firm lost more than 95 billion litres of water through leaks last year.

“That’s 260 million litres wasted every single day — meanwhile they’ve dumped hundreds of thousands hours’ worth of sewage into our rivers and coastlines,” GMB organiser Deanne Ferguson said.

“Bills are rocketing, infrastructure is crumbling, and investment is nowhere to be seen.

“This isn’t about water scarcity — it’s about corporate negligence. People across Yorkshire are being punished while profits flow and pollution pours out.”

Households were warned they could face fines of up to £1,000 from today as the company became the first major utility firm to impose restrictions this year.

It said that the region has experienced both the driest and warmest spring on record this year, with higher water demand than usual leaving the region’s reservoirs just 55.8 per cent full.