For the second year running Yorkshire Water has been named Utility Company Of The Year.

Its unprecedented double victory was announced at the prestigious Utility Industry Achievement Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

This time Yorkshire Water beat other finalists, Scottish Water and Gaz de France, to secure the title.

The judges noted Yorkshire Water had achieved number one spot in the Ofwat "performance league table" last year, as well as achieving the best ever water quality and 95 per cent customer satisfaction.

The judges' citation said: "YW has put in another powerful set of figures proving that last year was no blip ... the company has gone from strength to strength.

"In delivering its core activities most efficiently, it is clear YW is number one, and the company has backed up its promises with delivery.

"Winning in 2004 was the culmination of a great turnaround for Yorkshire Water ... however the company has not rested on its laurels and has improved still further in 2005."

Success did not stop there.

The water company scooped another top award, winning the IT Initiative Of

The Year, for its work on a pollution prevention monitoring system known as "Hawkeye" - technology using telemetry to provide advanced warning of rising levels in sewers.

In the first seven months of use, it has helped Yorkshire Water to prevent more than 170 pollution incidents.

Kevin Whiteman, managing director of Yorkshire Water, said: "I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved, but there is always more to do and we must now continue to build on this success."

Updated: 09:15 Thursday, December 22, 2005