A water company has been fined £300,000 after drinking supplies were contaminated with a parasite.

Animal waste seeped into an underground tank and contaminated the water with cryptosporidium at Franklaw treatment works in 2015, the prosecution claimed.

United Utilities admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after up to 700,000 people were left unable to drink tap water for three weeks.

There was no outbreak of illness as a result of the contamination but there was an increase in patients attending GP surgeries, thought to be a result of press coverage.

United Utilities earlier expressed "deep regret" at the incident and said it had spent £25m as a result of the contamination, including paying £18.3m in voluntary compensation to households and businesses affected.