Newsbrief: Hairdresser wins water battle

Jackie Jacobs, the east London hairdresser who was facing a pounds 2,000 water bill after having a meter fitted, has had all her outstanding bills scrapped after Independent London drew attention to her plight.

Thames Water inspectors dug up the floor in her hallway, where the meter was fitted, and found a leak at a join in the pipe 4ft away. A spokesman said they had failed to test the meter when it was fitted, which should have shown up the leak. Mrs Jacobs is getting a new meter this week.