ANGLIAN Water is “seeking confrontation” by refusing to enter talks over the proposed closure of its final-salary pension scheme, unions said today.

The company was accused of “attacking the hard-earned pensions of workers” and seeking to provoke strike action after it refused to agree to talks at conciliation service Acas.

More than 5,000 Anglian Water workers will be affected by the pension scheme’s proposed closure, which could see some losing up to £100,000 if the new planned defined contribution pension scheme fails to deliver.