HAMPSHIRE mineral water will continue to be drunk in the corridors of power after MPs ditched plans to switch to tap water.

A Commons' committee ruled that Hildon water, which is bottled in Broughton, should continue to be served in Westminster meeting rooms despite pressure on politicians to adopt a greener alternative.

The decision, which emerged yesterday following an official review, was welcomed by Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, in whose constituency Hildon Limited is based.

Mrs Gidley, who had criticised MPs for considering a ban, said: "For once in their lives the committee have come to a sensible decision.

"If people want to make a choice to have tap water that can be arranged. People should feel free to have a choice."

Mrs Gidley, who visited Hildon in a show of support , added that bottling London tap water, something being considered by the House of Lords, which uses a different supplier to Hildon, would be a "futile exercise" because it tasted so "disgusting".

The Commons' decision to stick with Hildon was taken earlier this month at a private meeting of the administration committee, comprising a cross-party group of backbenchers, following a review by the Department of Facilities.

It followed claims by Environment minister Phil Woolas that drinking bottled water bordered on being "morally unacceptable" because it used 300 times more energy than drinking tap water.

More than 30,000 litres of mineral water are served in Commons meeting rooms every year for gatherings like select committees.

Including purchases from catering outlets, about 850,000 litres have been consumed over the past five years.

Hildon, which is based 77 miles from Westminster, has clocked up more than 70,000 miles delivering it during that time.

A spokeswoman for Hildon, which was set up in 1989 and employs about 70 people, said yesterday: "We are pleased and proud that we have the chance to continue to deliver, using our battery powered emission-free vehicle, our natural mineral water to the House of Commons."

But lobby group Sustain, which campaigns against bottled water, said the decision made MPs "look like fools".

Spokeswoman Jeanette Longfield said: "When the whole of the rest of Government has been instructed by the Cabinet Office not to waste taxpayers' money on bottled water, who the hell do MPs think they are to carry on?

"The standard of drinking water in this country is astonishingly high. There is nothing wrong with tap water."