A Deptford street cleaning company has been fined almost £6,000 after pleading guilty to stealing water.

Kilgannon Street Care admitted to seven offences after a driver was caught filling his road sweeper with water from an unlicensed standpipe.

The other offences last year were discovered after a Thames Water investigation.

Thames Water said it loses hundreds of thousands of litres every day because of companies illegally connecting into the network.

Steve Johnston, an investigator for Thames Water, said: "It was very disappointing to have to go to court again but we hope this sends out a powerful message.

"We work around the clock to cut leakage and ask our customers to use water wisely, so it is not fair for others to take water without paying.

"We will always look to work with companies before going to court but if lessons are not learnt then we have no hesitation about taking further action."

Kilgannon Street Care pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a £5,950 fine along with £3,000 in costs.

Another company Go Plant Fleet Services, based in Leicester, was also fined heavily for similar offences.

Claire Rumens, illegal connections manager at Thames Water, added: "Illegally connecting to our network risks the safety, security and reliability of our supply to paying customers, and the unaccounted for water stolen during illegal connections adds to our leakage figures."

You can report water network abuse by emailing illegalconnections@thameswater.co.uk or by calling 0800 980 8800.