Northern Ireland Water has been blasted for its track record of poorly reinstating roads after completing maintenance work.

The utility provider, who was responsible for 20,000 of 35,000 excavations last year, was dubbed the worst offender - when it comes to repairing dug up roads - by the Audit Office.

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The Assembly's chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Paul Maskey, said authorities should be fined if roads and pavements are not restored to their previous condition.

NI Water responded to the claims by saying it had made huge improvements on its part.

The water service said it had introduced a range of initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of its works.

"We look forward to the publication of the next report which we anticipate will reflect the level of progress we have made," the body said in a statement.

(PR/JM)