WATER customers are bracing themselves for a major hike in their bills.

Proposals will see rates rocket by more than a quarter in the next five years.

If the plans are given the green light, then the average Severn Trent bill could rise from £210 to £267.

Severn Trent has revealed the proposed rise as part of major £160m plan for Worcestershire.

It is part of a national plan by water companies to increase investment.

Water UK, which represents suppliers, claims the increases nationwide are necessary for maintenance work and improvements, costing £22bn.Ofwat, the water regulator, will consider the plans before making its own draft proposals in August.

The Government will then have its say before Ofwat gives a final answer in December.

However, the proposed rise has not gone down well with customers in the county.

Lisa Westmacott, aged 28, of Boswell Court, Howsell Road, Malvern, said: "Water companies are the same as all big companies. They are fat cats who hike up the prices because they can."

Severn Trent is proposing its biggest ever investment programme across the Midlands.

The Worcestershire programme includes £21m on tackling nitrates in drinking water, nearly £5m on sewer flooding, improving sewage treatment works at Bromsgrove, which will cost £5.3m, and at Evesham, which will cost £2.7m.

More than £4m will be earmarked to maintain Droitwich sewage works, and a further £1.6m at Kidderminster.

"While prices will have to rise to fund this programme, it is accepted the average household bill in the Midlands will still be among the best value in the country, at around 73p a day by 2010 at today's prices," said Brian Duckworth, Severn Trent Water's managing director.

WaterVoice Central, a consumer body which represents customers, dubbed the rise unreasonable.

A spokesman said: "We don't think it's a reasonable amount. We're shocked those rises are considered to be necessary.

"River quality is at its highest levels at the moment. Clearly, a certain amount of money needs to be invested to keep it a high level, but why put in an unnecessary amount?"