Southern Water's chief executive has issued an apology for the utility company's slow action in preventing sewage spills.

Lawrence Gosden spoke as industry body Water UK announced a £10bn investment across Britain - but warned that consumers would be paying to fix old sewers.

Ruth Kelly, chair of the trade body Water UK, said consumers will face “modest upward pressure” on bills while shareholders will make a £10 billion investment in the biggest modernisation of English sewers “since the Victorian era”.

It means the public will have to pay towards upgrading storm overflows for up to a century.

In a statement after Water UK's announcement, Southern Water's Mr Gosden - who has confirmed he will not be paid a bonus during his first year in the job - said his firm is working to reduce storm overflows.

An overflow release is triggered in heavy rainfall and sees water firms release wastewater and rainwater into rivers and seas. This prevents flooding and filthy water from backing up into people's homes.

Just two years ago Southern Water was fined £90m in a criminal prosecution for sewage discharges between 2010-2015.

The company has recently spent £13m on boosting its storm overflow tank at Woolston Wastewater Treatment Works to protect the River Itchen.

In a statement issued today, Mr Gosden said his company would next month issue more details on plans being developed.

He said: “I am completely supportive of the Water UK announcement today, committing to system-wide action and investment of £10 billion on storm overflows and apologise that action was not taken sooner on sewage spills in the South-East.

“At Southern Water, we’re already working to reduce the number of storm overflows, investing significant money to build bigger infrastructure and redesign a legacy Victorian sewer system, as well as using innovative technology and natural solutions.

"Further to this, in June, we will be announcing more detail on our plans and how we will work with our stakeholders and communities to deliver. 

“Our board is sensitive to customer concerns on remuneration and has developed pay and bonus policies that reflect our environmental and customer service performance, as well as the challenges of our turnaround. In my first year as CEO, I will not be taking any bonus, because we have clearly not met the wider expectations of our customers."