IF you fancy seeing if a water meter could save you money, you can now take part in a two-year trial - double the previous time limit.

Wessex Water, which serves homes in Somerset, will allow customers to install a water meter for two years and then switch back to a set tariff if they decide it's not for them.

The move has been applauded by the Consumer Council for Water, whose senior policy manager Andy White said: "Giving customers a longer trial period is a great way to encourage more households to take the plunge and try a meter.

“Water meters won’t benefit everyone, but in some cases people can save more than £100 a year.

"But even a much smaller saving could make all the difference to the one in eight customers who tell us their water bill is unaffordable.”

Almost half of households across England and Wales are currently charged for their water using a meter.

As a general rule of thumb you are more likely to save money with a meter if you have more bedrooms than people living in your property - or you can check out the Consumer Council for Water's calculator at www.ccwater.org.uk