LUDLOW's water company, Severn Trent Water, has announced plans to raise £1 billion towards a network transformation plan to target sewage spills and help the environment.

Severn Trent Water said it planned to spend almost £13 billion in total over the next five years. Around £5 billion of this investment would focus on improving capacity and service beyond current levels, with £3 billion of that going towards aiding the environment. Such a move would create up to 7,000 jobs in the business and supply chain, the company said.

The announcement comes as the firm is one of several suppliers around the country under fire for sewage spillages and leaks. Raw sewage was dumped into rivers and seas.

Severn Trent said the plan meant the company could transform its network within 10 years, benefitting about eight million customers in homes and businesses in the West Midlands, including the people of Ludlow and the rest of Shropshire.

Severn Trent added that the plan would help it to reduce leakage by 16 per cent and prompt a 30 per cent reduction in spills from storm overflows, helping the firm to deliver the government's 2050 industry targets five years early.