Ashby MP Amanda Hack has backed moves to 'crack down on water companies that fail communities and foul the environment'.

Labour says a record 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched in England since the election, as part of the Government's crackdown on sewage dumping.

A new operation spearheaded by Environment Secretary Steve Reed amounts to the largest criminal action against water companies in history.

The Government says the number of inspections carried out by authorities into sewage pollution has skyrocketed by nearly 400 per cent since last July.

Ms Hack, the MP for North West Leicestershire, said: "Complaints about sewage dumping in local waterways often arise on the doorstep.

"Many sites in and around our towns and villages are being ruined by sewage dumping.

"Cleaning up our rivers and brooks is one of my top priorities. I'm fully behind the moves to crack down on water companies that fail communities and foul the environment."

The record number of Environment Agency spot checks at water company premises and rivers has revealed widespread law-breaking.

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Labour says over 80 criminal investigations have been launched against water companies over the last nine months, a surge of 145 per cent since the election.

Following these investigations, water bosses could be jailed for five years and water companies fined hundreds of millions of pounds.

The Government says this should act as a powerful deterrent, focussing water bosses' minds on investing to upgrade water infrastructure to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.

Water companies will also spend a record £104 billion and cut sewage discharges by nearly half over five years.