People can now report water leaks at the touch of a button after United Utilities added a new feature to its customer app.

The utility firm said the move had been made in a bid to reduce wasted water.

The app has already been used to pay over £4.1 million in water charges since its launch last year

United Utilities has now launched a new version, allowing anyone who downloads it to report a leak.

A spokesman said one of the company's key objectives was to cut the amount of water that was wasted.

Using the new version of the app, customers can still make payments, submit meter readings and view their payment history.

Denise Maskew, customer digital manager for United Utilities, said: “Our innovative 'Report a Leak' function allows users to take a picture of a leak with their device, and using Google Maps integration, the exact location can be pin-pointed by our team.

"It adds context to the issue, ensuring our team deal with leaks based on their severity, but it also deepens our customer engagement – a critical part of any business.

"We’re thrilled with the uptake of our app so far – which has contributed to increasing our digital customer base by 146,000. We hope this helps to further build those key engagements with our customers."

United Utilities partnered with mobile technology company Apadmi to develop the app.

Nick Black, chief commercial officer for Apadmi, added: “Since launch, the United Utilities app has added a whole new dimension to their offering – but this is just the start.

“We’ve developed a clear technology roadmap in accordance with their business goals and already identified a series of key features for growth that will help take the app to the next level, providing services not currently offered by other water providers.”