A Norfolk MP is calling for a ban on bonuses for water bosses after Anglian Water was ordered to refund customers more than £38m for failing to meet targets.

Steffan Aquarone, MP for North Norfolk, said the firm’s bosses should not be allowed to receive bonuses until it stops sewage spills polluting the region’s rivers and seas.

It comes as Ofwat ordered Anglian Water to pay back its customers £38.1m for missing its performance targets this week. The targets included reducing pollution, leaks and supply interruptions.

Anglian Water fell into the lowest category of the industry regulator’s annual review and must refund customers via lower bills next year.

Steffan Aquarone, MP for North NorfolkSteffan Aquarone, MP for North Norfolk (Image: Owen Sennitt) Anglian Water dumped sewage more than 31,600 times last year - with the spills lasting 273,000 hours, according to Environment Agency figures.

The firm has paid its bosses more than £6m in bonuses since 2019.

"The fact that water bosses have benefitted from huge bonuses while people have suffered from filthy waterways and hiked bills is unacceptable," Mr Aquarone said. 

“I have made a pledge to the people of north Norfolk that I am making it my mission to end sewage spills off our beautiful coastline."

READ MORE: North Norfolk MP Steffan Aquarone pledges to end sewage spills

The Liberal Democrat MP also criticised the Labour government's new water bill, which sets out to give regulators greater powers to crack down on water companies and ban bonuses to bosses if they fail to meet certain standards.

He said the bill is "nowhere near tough enough", with Lib Dem leader Ed Davey calling for Ofwat to be scrapped in favour of a regulator with "real power". 

Emma Hardy, Minister for Water and FloodingEmma Hardy, Minister for Water and Flooding (Image: PA) Emma Hardy, the government's new minister for water and flooding, said: "Sewage has polluted our rivers, lakes and seas for too long and there has been too little accountability for those responsible. That ends now.

"All water companies must rise to that challenge, and that includes Anglian Water.

READ MORE: Norfolk water treatment company acquired by rapidly expanding Scottish firm

"The public are rightly disappointed with the water companies, particularly coastal regions that rely on clean waters for tourism.

"Ofwat are proposing Anglian Water spend £9.4bn between 2025 and 2030 on upgrades, including storm overflows and wastewater treatment works."