North West residents have again seen a year-on-year improvement in the quality of their drinking water, it was announced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

The inspectorate said pesticides have been virtually eliminated and the risk from microbiological contamination is extremely low.

Bosses added the improvement reflected stringent enforcement and the work done by United Utilities Water, formerly North West Water, which invested £900 million between 1990 and 2000.