Robot leak hunters

DRONES, robots, satellite technology – and even the medieval art of water divining – are being deployed by water firm Severn Trent in its battle against leaks.

It is doubling down on efforts after it missed supply and leak targets for the year in part due to freezing weather and heavy rain, causing pipes to crack, and is now working on a robot to be put inside pipes to pinpoint leaks.

Late last year it emerged its engineers still sometimes use divining rods, which are supposed to cross over when water is found, to find leaks.

Severn Trent posted a 3.4pc increase in turnover to £1.7bn and a 4pc rise in profit to £541m. It faces a £29m penalty for supply interruptions.