One of the country's largest water companies has been handed a record fine for supplying contaminated drinking water to more than a million people.

Anglian Water was fined £1.42m at Northampton Crown Court on Friday following a prosecution by the Drinking Water Inspectorate for failures affecting around 1.3 million people.

The firm reported itself to the DWI for using unapproved materials at four separate sites which were installed into drinking water tanks between June and December 2021, and pleaded guilty in court.

An investigation found it had repeatedly used unapproved plastic-based products to coat the outside of pipework within its drinking water tanks.

The plastic later broke down into flakes and powder which entered the water supply.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: "Contamination of drinking water on any scale is scandalous and a complete disgrace.

"The record fine handed down sends a clear signal that this criminal behaviour is unacceptable."

The investigation also found wider issues around Anglian Water's management of its materials and contractors, such as a lack of staff training, and in some cases water tanks were used even after the company knew they contained unapproved products.

Marcus Rink, chief inspector at the DWI, said the body had taken "firm action" to make sure Anglian Water had removed all the material, adding: "Public health and drinking water quality must be the highest priority, and there can be no compromise."