Water customers have complained about what they claim are the hidden costs of domestic meters.

Pensioner Olive Card, of Russell Close, East Preston, near Littlehampton, has to pay extra after a leak at her home.

Since having a meter fitted last June, Mrs Card must pay for the water she has used. She waited two weeks for Southern Water to fix the leak, which means she must pay for two weeks' worth of water washing down the drain.

She said: "That is what I am worried about. It was on for a fortnight and was flowing into the road.

"We are told to save water so I would have thought they would repair it as a priority."

Provider Southern Water says Mrs Card is responsible for the leak because it occurred beneath her property away from the mains pipe.

An employee was sent to repair Mrs Card's leak on Monday but the tap in her kitchen was still not working properly two days later. A Southern Water spokeswoman said because of the drought, the firm was offering free repairs on private supply pipes. However, these would only be fixed after more serious mains leaks.

She said: "This pipe is the customer's responsibility to repair, not Southern Water's but we are offering this service to help stop leaks.

"These supply pipes are much smaller than a lot of our mains so any leaks will be small."

The Southern Water leakline is 0800 820999.