Two companies who illegally tapped into Thames Water hydrants in High Wycombe and Thame have been ordered to pay more than £12,000 between them.

Liquiline Ltd and Midland Tankers appeared in court in the last month after Thames Water company caught workers using illegal standpipes to take water from hydrants.

Liquiline was caught stealing water at Cressex Business Park in Blenheim Road on November 23 and December 1 last year.

The company pleaded guilty to two offences at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on July 7 and was ordered to pay a £2,668 fine, a victim surcharge of £190 and costs of more than £3,000.

Midland Tankers, represented at Oxford Magistrates' Court by director Lee Murray, also pleaded guilty to taking water from a housing development in Sycamore Rise in Thame, and was fined £700 with costs of more than £5,000.

The company was prosecuted in 2019 for a similar offence in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Both firms pleaded guilty to offences under the Water Industry Act 1991 and Water Fittings (Supply) Regulations 1999.

Since 2017, Thames Water has recovered more than £500,000 from contractors, landowners and other third parties who illegally took water from hydrants.

It is part of a major clampdown on those using water but not paying for it amid an increasing strain on resources because of climate change and population growth.

Claire Rumens, Thames Water’s illegal connections manager, said: “We work hard around the clock to cut leakage from our network and ask our customers to use water wisely, so it is not fair for others to take water without paying.

“Over the last few years, we’ve ramped up our work to find and stop illegal connections, uncovering hundreds of offences and saving millions of litres of water.

"While we will always look to work with individuals and companies and consider court action a last resort, we will not hesitate to prosecute repeat offenders.

“One of these companies had previously been warned about taking water and we’re disappointed that we’ve had to take them to court.

"We hope this time the message will get through that we will not tolerate illegal connections on our network.”

Anyone found using a standpipe without permission will be given the opportunity to pay a charge. Those who fail to pay and repeat offenders will be prosecuted.

To report any water network abuse email illegalconnections@thameswater.co.uk or call customer service on 0800 980 8800.