Water firm bosses have received in total multi-million-pound pay hikes over the last year amid public outrage over pollution and bills, as well as government bonus bans.

Among the top water bosses who received the biggest wage hike was Louise Beardmore, the chief executive of United Utilities, who earned £2.5million this year – over a million-pound increase on her salary the year before.

The FTSE 100 firm, which does not anticipate being under the bonus ban, gave Beardmore a £435,000 ‘annual allowance’ as well as a fixed pay increase to £971,000.

The water firm said the money was sourced from shareholders and was needed to keep leaders. The ‘annual allowance’ boost had no performance requirements.

It also added that Beardmore did receive a bonus in the most recent financial year, as the firm maintains it did not breach any Ofwat rules.

Mark Thurston, the chief executive of Anglian Water, was paid an eye-watering £1.9million – which included a ‘retention payment’ of £500,000 despite the bonus ban.

It comes as water regulator Ofwat gains the ability to ban bonuses for bosses at companies that break pollution rules, with eight companies expecting to be impacted by the new rules in the year 2025-26.

Firms responsible for the most serious incidents of pollution or financial failings can also be hit with bonus bans retrospectively.

Louise Beardmore, the chief executive of United Utilities, who earned £2.5million this year – over a million-pound increase on her salary the year before

But despite the ban, the pay for top water firm bosses, reported by water companies, was £25.3million in the financial year ending this March, an increase from £24.9million the year before, The Guardian reported.

It is the second consecutive year where water company bosses’ pay has gone up despite the government’s ban on bonuses.

In recent years, water company wages have come under scrutiny due to increased pollution in the country’s rivers and seas as well as sharp bill hikes by firms for late investments into shoddy pipes, new reservoirs and ageing treatment works.

And a recent hosepipe ban issued across 20 English regions amid Britain’s scorching summer weather has only added to the fury.

In some instances, firm bosses have been given additional accolades which companies allege are not ‘performance-related payments’ or bonuses, and as such do not come under the Ofwat ban.

While Anglian Water confirmed it would fall under the ban, it continued to award its boss, Thurston, who was once Britain’s best-paid public servant, most of his pay through the water firm’s parent company.

The former HS2 boss was also given a £500,000 ‘retention payment’ via this route.

The water company said it did not count the half a million pound ‘retention payment’ as a bonus as it was not connected to the firm’s performance.

They added that the sum was funded by shareholders for work outside of the firm. It also said it required ‘targeted, time-limited retention arrangements to maintain leadership continuity’.

Meanwhile, even though Yorkshire Water believed it was likely to fall under the bonus ban, its parent company paid Nicola Shaw, its chief executive, £600,000 on top of her annual pay of £732,000.

And Ruth Jefferson, the chief executive of Wessex Water, was given a 14 per cent salary hike despite the firm being banned from dishing out bonuses. The water company said the increase indicated the role’s responsibilities.

Thames Water paid senior staff who did not come under the ban £4.1million in bonuses. 

Previous suggestions indicated Thames Water and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water would come under the ban on bonuses for bosses.

Some firms that are under the ban saw pay for bosses drop, including Southern Water, Severn Trent and Northumbrian Water.

However, Heidi Mottram, the firm’s chief executive, received a £300,000 ‘retention payment’.

Andrew Speke, the High Pay Centre’s interim director, said recent figures indicate ‘the government’s current measures have not gone far enough’.

Meanwhile, Gary Carter, a national officer for the GMB union, which represents many water firm staff, said: ‘Finding ways round the bonus ban further tarnishes the reputations of private water companies.

‘It makes them look like money-grabbing asset strippers who care more about lining their own pockets than providing fresh, clean water for the UK public.

‘Senior executive pay is out of control, and the government needs to fundamentally overhaul the water companies – with more public control – to fix it.’

Water regulator, Ofwat, is set to reveal which water firms fall under the bonus ban this autumn.  

But bans can be given to any company who are accountable for serious incidents of pollution or firms that are faltering financially. 

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: ‘We have banned undeserved bonuses for water company bosses. Any attempt to circumvent the rules is completely unacceptable.

Yorkshire Water’s parent company paid Nicola Shaw, its chief executive, £600,000 on top of her annual pay of £732,000

Heidi Mottram, chief executive of Northumbrian Water, received a £300,000 ‘retention payment’

‘We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring bonuses can only be paid where companies deliver environmental and customer outcomes and Ofwat’s review of the bonus rule will carefully consider if any requirements need to be tightened.’

An Ofwat spokesperson said: ‘Rebuilding public trust in the water sector is vital and central to our rules on executive pay – last year alone, companies were prohibited from paying approximately £4m in potential bonuses.

‘We require full transparency on all remuneration, performance-related or otherwise, and companies must clearly explain their decisions.

‘Water companies must make remuneration decisions in compliance with our rules, and we hold them accountable for these decisions.

‘We are currently reviewing companies’ remuneration decisions and will not hesitate to take action where we find breaches of our rules.’

A United Utilities spokesperson said: ‘None of the remuneration paid to our executive directors is paid for by customers.

‘It is vital that we have leaders with the right capabilities to run the largest FTSE 100 company in the North West as we invest over £13 billion in infrastructure by 2030, supporting 30,000 jobs.

‘That’s why our new policy includes timebound and targeted retention payments to ensure we have the right people to deliver for customers and the environment.’

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: ‘Last year we made a commitment to be open and transparent about future executive pay from Kelda. In line with this, we’ve outlined payments received by CEO Nicola Shaw within our annual report.​

‘Our shareholders have made those payments due to the work carried out by Yorkshire Water executives to secure new investors into the business, who are committed to our plans and will join our other shareholders to inject £600m into the business before March 2027. Last year, Ofwat reviewed our approach to these payments. ​

‘As previously stated, we feel it is right that this work is paid for by shareholders and not Yorkshire Water customers and we remain committed to being transparent around remuneration and following the FTSE100 reporting approach for executive pay.’

The Daily Mail has approached Water UK, Northumbrian Water, Anglian Water, Thames Water, and Wessex Water for comment.

People are irate after the White House tried to MAGA-ify Jimothy, the beloved Seattle-based raccoon who went viral for having a short spine.

Capitalizing on the viral social media trend, the White House posted an image of Jimothy wearing a red ‘Trump was right about everything’ hat.

“Jimothy spotted on the way to Washington, D.C.,” the caption read.

Within a day, the post had accumulated more than one million views and criticisms that it was “cringe” and the White House was “killing memes.”

One person disputed Jimothy would have voted for President Donald Trump, joking the raccoon was a “Harris voter [for real]” and “maybe uncommitted in the primary.”

But mostly, critics responded with complaints that the White House was using the trending raccoon to promote Trump.

“I swear y’all go out of your way to try to ruin everyone’s fun,” one X user grumbled.

An X user named Evan wrote: “Genuinely the worst propaganda account ever.”

The raccoon named Jimothy has been all over social media, gaining buzz for his uniquely curved back, and stealing the hearts of Seattle locals. In one video posted on Instagram, Jimothy was seen prancing across a lawn before going up concrete steps.

The woman filming the video can be heard saying, “What am I looking at?”

She then said in the post’s caption that she and her partner “were graced with the presence of Jimothy the raccoon with short spine syndrome. Praise Jimothy!!”

The Daily Beast was the first to report on the Jimothy backlash. The White House often uses its social media accounts to post memes or troll Trump’s opponents – a tactic that can resonate with young people and boost morale, even momentarily.

More recently, the White House social media team has engaged with people online by Trump-ifying trending posts. Earlier this month, the White House posted a version of Madison Square Garden’s wedding announcement for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce by replacing the original text with: “TRUMP Is Your President.”

The concept is popular with companies and brands, which are typically doing so to promote a product.

Other Trump administration agencies followed suit on Jimothy. The Office of Personnel Management posted an image of Jimothy “trying to enter public service” and a personal identification badge indicating “Jimothy J. Raccoon” was now working for the government.

The Interior Department press team promptly responded, claiming Jimothy was now a Park Police Officer.

Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, also chimed in: “We believe in equal employment opportunities – in this case, though, I question the merit-based assessment process.”

Kupor’s tweet referred to Trump’s policy that all hiring in the federal government be “merit-based” after accusing past administration of hiring for diversity, equity and inclusion purposes.

Police Scotland has declared a major incident as fire crews continue to battle a wildfire at the Cairngorms National Park – this is a breaking story

Police Scotland has declared a major incident as firefighters battle a wildfire at the Cairngorms National Park.

The force said the decision followed a “significant change” in weather conditions, with strengthening winds making the fire more unpredictable and causing it to spread towards Nethy Bridge.

Superintendent Judy Hill said: “The weather conditions experienced within the Cairngorms over the last 24 hours have added further complexities to this situation. With evidence suggesting the fire is spreading towards Nethy Bridge, the decision has been taken to declare a major incident and evacuate residents as a precaution.”

She said additional police resources are being deployed to help people leave their homes and maintain cordons around restricted areas while firefighters continue to tackle the blaze.

“We understand this is a very concerning time for residents, businesses and visitors to the Cairngorms region,” Supt Hill said. “Please be assured that the multi-agency response remains fully committed to bringing this incident to a safe conclusion as quickly as possible.”

This is a Breaking News story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future by simply by clicking this link. You can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.

Malton’s monthly Little Bird Artisan Market, organised in partnership with Little Bird Made, was due to take place on Saturday, July 25, from 10am in the town’s central market square.

The event was promoted as featuring a vibrant selection of independent traders offering handcrafted goods, food, and drink, capturing the heart of Malton’s famed “Made in Malton” spirit.

However, a spokesperson for Little Bird Artisan Market, said: “Due to forecasted high wind gusts, we’ve made the tough decision to cancel the Malton Artisan Market for Saturday, 25 July.

“The safety of our visitors, traders, and staff is always our top priority.

“We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to welcome you on Saturday, 22 August.”

For more information about Little Bird Artisan Markets, to book a stall, or to apply, contact info@littlebirdmade.co.uk, visit www.littlebirdmade.com, or follow @LittleBirdMade on Instagram or Facebook.

The 25-year-old appeared before a special court sitting on Friday evening

A 25-year-old law student has been granted bail after appearing before court in the Republic of Ireland charged with possession of explosives.

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, of Abbeylands Park, Clane in Co Kildare, appeared before a special sitting of Trim District Court in Co Meath on Friday evening after a bomb was intercepted in a car near the Irish border.

A Garda officer outlined to the court how Ms Perrie Sullivan had been stopped by Gardaí on the N2 at Aclint, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

During a search of her vehicle, a bag was found in the rear seat which was found to contain Semtex and a detonator, the court heard.

The court heard that Ms Perrie Sullivan was studying for a law degree and wanted to become a barrister. Gardaí objected to bail.

Defence solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law, said his client had been asked to take a bag to the north, and had not been aware what was in it.

Judge Raymond Finnegan agreed to allow bail.

It came with a number of conditions, which included an independent surety of 15,000 euros, that she surrenders her passport, an address approved by Gardaí, a mobile phone number on which to be available 24/7, to sign in every day at Naas Garda Station and a curfew of 9pm to 7am.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

‘Inflation is down’ so is there no cost-of-living crisis?

We keep reading about the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ but inflation is down to 2.6 per cent. In 1975, soon after I had married, it hit 25 per cent. Let’s get some perspective! Jamie, Chelsea

Right-wing media are resposible for view Burnham is taking is back to the ’70s, says reader

A Martin (MetroTalk, Thu) says Burnham ‘seems to want to take Britain back to the 1970s’. How do we know this? Has Burnham said this? What measures is he introducing 
that reflect such a view? Or, maybe A Martin just gets ideas from the right-wing media? Martin, London

Sound was an issue with the Odyssey

Having read Tori Brazier’s five-star review of The Odyssey (Metro, Jul 16),
I went to see it with high expectations.

First, the sound. During the opening scenes on Ithaca I could hardly understand a word of what was said due to the subdued whispery tone of the actors. This applied to most of the film –except when an actor shouted.

I was quite bored with scenes leading up to Odysseus’s departure for Troy. Some scenes after the Sack of Troy were good, in particular with the Cyclops.

Other reservations include why Helen of Troy had to be black [Lupita Nyong’o]. She was a Spartan queen, almost certainly white. The goddess Athena [Zendaya] scarcely appears and doesn’t resemble as much of a goddess as Tori seems to think.

Anne Hathaway makes a passable Penelope, though, and Matt Damon is excellent as Odysseus.

However, at nearly three hours, the film is far too long and director Nolan unnecessarily repeats the Sack of Troy a few times. The film also jumps backwards and forwards, which makes it confusing at times. If it’s your first time with the plot, you’ll find it a bit difficult to follow. I was glad to leave when the end finally arrived. Peter, Bradford-on-Avon

More labelling needed on processed foods

Further to calls for more explicit labelling on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in light of their link to fatal heart disease (MetroTalk, Mon).

Companies that produce UPFs should by now realise they cause cancers. As a recovering victim of prostate cancer, caused by eating processed food, surely it is incumbent on manufacturers of these dangerous foodstuffs to advertise this on their labels.

They should follow the example of the cigarette companies who print very clearly that smoking kills, because so does eating UPFs. Melvyn Jacobs, Stockport

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

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Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has opened up about being in a relationship with a married man, 30 years her senior, when she was just 19.

Best known for playing Izzy Hoyland in the iconic Australian soap, the actress, now 50, recently sat down to reflect on life on screen, on stage, as a singer and all-around TV personality.

During one candid moment of reflection, she recounted a difficult situation she found herself in whilst having an affair with a 55-year-old man, when she was just shy of 20.

First reminiscing on her inner troubles while in the age-gap relationship, she said: ‘The hardest part was feeling deceitful because I’ve always felt like that’s not who I am as a person to the core.

‘But I just fell in love with a person who told me I was amazing and beautiful and talented and funny and what we all want to be told.

Explaining that the hardest part was knowing that she was hurting his wife. ‘When she came to me, and it was the worst day of my life, it was freaking horrible.’

The moment Natalie decided to leave, however, came when she discovered she was expecting a baby.

She continued to the Inherited podcast: ‘I got pregnant to him and I did not want the baby. I was like: “Oh my god I’m a child”,’ but the father did want to keep it.

‘I think he’d been trying with his wife before and that didn’t happen,’ she said, explaining that she eventually said yes to keeping the child but then he started ‘not being very nice’ to her.

‘It was very odd, it was almost like: “Great I’ve got you now.”

The TV star later suffered a miscarriage.

Eventually the couple also parted ways, with Natalie ultimately reflecting that after going to therapy ‘he was a grown man taking advantage of a young woman’.

In recent years she has been open about her dating life, sharing that she was engaged to her partner Pip Loth in October 2025 after they confirmed their romance in 2023.

Nowadays, Natalie – whose main run on Neighbours was between 2003 and 2007 – is putting all her concentration into her theatre career and recently wrapped her role as Jenna in Australia’s national tour of Waitress.

The tour, however, was abruptly cancelled, with Natalie later sharing a message on social media about her gratitude for all the women she’s had the honour to play on stage.

‘It has been so incredible to sit in the gratitude for all the many amazing women I have had the opportunity to play in my career. These characters spoke to me in ways that are hard to put into words. They always came at a time when I needed them the most.

‘These women were raw and real. Struggling to find their place. But they did. Each story unique, but at the core, a celebration of finding themselves along the way.

‘I was able to share these stories with thousands, nationwide, seemingly at a time when they needed it too. How great to look back with pride and celebrate theatre

‘Keep watching and supporting these stories and experiences. You will be changed for good,’ she concluded.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

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MORE: TV star of four soaps, Terence Donovan, dead aged 90 as pop icon son pays tribute

Coronation Street icon Tracy Shaw, who played Maxine Peacock on the ITV soap, has shared an emotional update on her “excruciating” cancer battle after receiving bad news

Tracy Shaw has addressed her “excruciating” breast cancer battle after learning that her chemotherapy had not worked as well as she hoped. The actress, 52, who played Maxine Peacock on Coronation Street from 1995 until 2003, announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with disease and has been sharing updates ever since.

Earlier this week, the soap icon broke down in tears after discovering that her chemotherapy treatment had not worked as well as she had hoped but took to social media again on Friday to address the “wobble” she suffered.

Speaking in a video posted to Instagram, she said: “Thank you so much for your truly inspiring and encouraging messages. Yesterday was a wobble, and yeah, there are moments like this on this journey. I doubt it’s in the hands of the medical side and it’s by a machine. There was one lady sent me a message about the shape of it is still there because they are the dead cancer cells, and I like that, I’m going to hang onto that one.”

Tracy who also enjoyed a brief pop career with a cover of the Lonnie Gordon track Happenin’ All Over Again and in more recent years has starred in a string of theatre productions, explained that she has learned to appreciate other things in life since her diagnosis and thanked the community of women who have supported her on social media.

She added: “So today, I woke up at 4am, I sat and waited and watched the most beautiful sunrise. I realised the gifts and the gratitude that I have that although the whole of the whole of this journey is pretty excruciating most of the time, there are some major plus signs to how my life has changed.

“When I woke up today before the light and now generally my body just goes to sleep when it’s getting dark. I get to sit in stillness and see part of the world that I wouldn’t normally experience, and for that I’m really, truly grateful.

“I also wouldn’t have met you amazing women who have gone through way more than I was crying about yesterday, so thank you. Thank you for shining the light and giving me the courage to get up today, and to keep moving forward. For that, I am really grateful. Thank you.”

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On Thursday, Tracy, who has also appeared in Casualty, Doctors and various ITV dramas over the years, told fans that she was expecting that the chemo had worked a bit better given the intense nature of the treatment.

She said: “I had my ultrasounds today to find out if the lesions had shrunk. I also needed to check a lump that I’d found on the other breast, which is on the right breast. The good news is that the lump, well there’s actually quite a lot, are all cysts, so that’s good news and the lesions on my left breast…erm…

“Well, my expectations were that judging by what personally I’ve gone through and what the chemo does, I thought they’d shrunk but basically they’ve gone from being circular to oval but not really shrunk in size.

“I don’t know what I was expecting. I think I’m just expecting some results of what I’ve felt, some results of what the body has had to go through to!” The TV star then let the tears roll as she acquiesced that some sort of miracle will come along eventually.

She said: “I don’t know…maybe, maybe a few more rounds will be all it takes but I know they can’t operate until they shrink it. I thought I’d give you a live update but I was just expecting some miracularlous miracle. But maybe it’s to come. All my love to you all.”

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.

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