BRITISH Gas, backed by its employees and investors, rounded on the industry watchdog, Ms Clare Spottiswoode, to condemn her decision yesterday to press ahead with plans to cut almost £30 sterling off the average British annual household bill.

Ofgas, the industry regulator, said it wanted British Gas's pipeline and transportation company TransCo to cut prices by 20 per cent from next April and by another 2.5 per cent a year until 2001. This would feed through to a £55 cut off the average bill of £325 a year by 2001.