AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after water bills in some areas of Bicester almost trebled.

At least 91 households in Langford Village and areas of Launton have reported shock increases in their bills from Thames Water this month.

One customer’s bill ended up higher than £600 for their water use over the past year.

Thames Water said it has launched a full investigation into the matter, adding that “water meter readings taken last year did not account for total usage”.

Resident of Ravencroft for 18 years Kevin Harris lives with his wife and two children.

The 56-year-old said: “We’ve always had pretty normal water consumption, around the 30 cubic metres mark [every half year].

“But for November 2014 to May 2015 Thames Water said we used 74 cubic metres.”

Mr Harris’s bill, which was previously £70 for the same period last year, shot up to £204.

He said: “It makes life difficult as we have other bills, like car insurance renewal coming up.”

Mr Harris’s case was not unique, as numerous roads across Langford Village have experienced a similar hike.

Business manager Helene Kempster lives with her two sons in a three-bedroom house in Osprey Close.

The 52-year-old said that her water bill increased from £106 between November 2013 and May 2014, to £328.81 this year.

Nearly all the bills sent to residents of Langford quote “actual meter readings” being taken, including the bills from last year. ut Ms Kempster said: “When I queried it they said that it was a ‘guess-timate’ because they hadn’t charged me enough last year.”

Redwing Close resident Jackie Jordan was also told on her online account that a member of Thames Water had visited her home and taken an “actual meter reading”.

But when she checked online her usage had shot up to 80 cubic metres from 20 last year.

Ms Jordan has yet to receive her bill.

Mother-of-two Jennifer Grieve was also told that her usage had increased from 34 cubic metres for the first half of last year to 137 for the same period this year.

The 48-year-old said: “Yes, I use the washing machine quite a bit but that doesn’t explain the £300 bill.”

The Avocet Way resident said she was first alerted to the bill after a neighbour spoke to her complaining of the same issue.

Thames Water spokeswoman Sarah Sharpe said: “We’re sorry customers have received higher than expected bills. We believe this is because a sample of water meter readings taken last year did not account for total consumption. We’re reviewing the bills of customers in the area as a matter of urgency, and we will be in contact with anyone we believe has been affected.”

She could not explain why previous bills “did not account for total consumption”, though customers had been told they were based on meter readings, but said it would be looked into.