A VILLAGE hall hit with a water bill a staggering 42 times higher than normal is facing legal action after it was unable to pay it.

Cumwhitton Parish Hall, near Carlisle, says the £855 bill is extortionate, as it usually pays between £17 and £19.

While those in charge of the hall are battling to have it overturned, the community has launched a fundraising drive – complete with Easter egg dump – to try and raise the funds to pay it.

Sandra Watson, assistant secretary at the hall, said she couldn’t believe it when the huge bill landed, assuming it was a mistake which would be quickly rectified. 

She added: “I phoned United Utilities to tell them it wasn’t right but, despite trying, I can’t get anyone to sort this out for us.”

From December 2010 to June 2014 the hall used 19 units of water. From then until November 2014 the meter read 24 and then the next bill, on March 17, 2015, read a whopping 318.

Mrs Watson said: “Virtually no-one uses the hall except a pilates class, a dance class, the odd funeral tea and children’s party.

“A meter reader from United Utilities visited the hall on February 1 this year and agreed that we could not have used that much water.

“We had a plumber check to see if there was a leak but there wasn’t and no taps had been left on. We think something must have gone wrong with the meter.

“The meter reader suggested we have a new meter put in but that hasn’t happened.”

The hall has received several letters from United Utilities threatening legal action but the latest is more serious.

Mrs Watson said: “It’s very threatening and says we have six days to pay up or we will be taken to court. It’s a nightmare but we just can’t speak to anyone at the top about it.”

A spokesman for United Utilities said: “We’re going to make contact with the parish hall to work with them to ensure this issue is satisfactory dealt with.”