Yorkshire Water has succeeded in improving its customer service levels for a fifth successive year.

The Bradford-based company today welcomed the findings of an Ofwat report which hailed the progress made in the industry since privatisation in 1991.

The independent regulator of the industry said water companies were maintaining a good level of service to customers, with the problems of sewer flooding and low water pressure particularly well addressed.

Yorkshire Water, which this week became the first water firm to brand its tap water, was named as the UK's most effective company for preventing low pressure.

The Ofwat figures showed Yorkshire Water moved into fourth place in the league table of UK water and sewerage companies according to the overall assessment, its score rising to 409 points from a possible 438.

And it ranked particularly well in customer service, with 100 per cent of all inquiries about billing issues responded to within five working days.

Director of competition and consumer affairs Tony Smith said: "We are naturally very pleased to see the companies are generally maintaining their high standards of service and making improvements where necessary. Companies are investing more to reduce the number of homes at risk of flooding from sewers. This is a problem customers tell us causes the most inconvenience."

Yorkshire Water scored highly for avoiding unplanned interruptions to customers' supply and for its excellent water quality, with the best ever water flowing through customers' pipes.

The good news continued for Yorkshire Water this week when it was named on a shortlist of three for the title of utility firm of the year by Utility Week magazine.

Yorkshire Water's director of regulation and investment Richard Ackroyd said the Ofwat report was "great news for our customers, for everyone at Yorkshire Water and for our service partners who work closely alongside us.

"For the fifth year running we have improved our service levels to customers. To be further recognised as Utility of the Year in December's national award ceremony would be unbelievable for everyone involved.

"We are proud of our achievements, but there is still much to be done and over the next five years we are committed to making further significant investment in Yorkshire's water and sewerage network to tackle ongoing problems like sewer flooding and further improve the quality of the region's rivers."