A Belfast company today snapped up a £50m (€55.9m) contract from Northern Ireland Water to repair and maintain the water and sewerage networks.

Errors calculating bills combined with the economic downturn has left Northern Ireland Water facing an income shortfall of up to £7m (€8.93m) this year, the company revealed today.

More than 300 jobs are to go by April as part of Northern Ireland Water’s efficiency drive, the company confirmed tonight.

Northern Ireland Water failed to meet its targets on drinking water quality and the number of pollution incidents last year, its first annual report revealed today.

The chief executive of Northern Ireland Water is leaving her post at the end of the month, it was announced today.