HAMPSHIRE residents will see their water bills rocket by an inflation-busting 5.6 per cent from today.

Bills for households who receive both water and sewerage services from Southern Water will increase by an average of 2.6 per cent plus the November RPI rate of inflation, which was three per cent The average bill for 2009/10 will rise by £20 to £370.

Southern Water supplies nearly two million households in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Last month it announced a pay freeze for its 1,600 workforce this year.

Ofwat set limits on the prices water and sewerage companies could charge customers for five years up until 2010.