In the North West, United Utilities has offered some relief, by shelving the changes and reverting to the old, cheaper system – but for one year only.

It means churches in Merseyside and Cheshire face a return to bills of many tens of thousands of pounds next year, unless the Government bows to the pressure to exempt non-profit organisations.

Quizzed by the Daily Post yesterday, Mr Benn said: “I am very concerned about what’s happening. There is clearly something wrong with bills increasing like that.

“In some cases, it may have been that the calculation of the surface area was not properly done. For example, if there is a sports field, you shouldn’t charge for that because it drains naturally.”

Asked if he would support Mr Hall’s Bill, Mr Benn added: “We are keeping this under close review.

“I expect water companies to implement the guidance sensibly – and very, very large increases in bills in a very short space of time doesn’t seem to me to be sensible implementation.”

United Utilities was only forced into its U-turn because it failed to correctly calculate some bills, wrongly including permeable areas such as grass pitches that do drain.

Liverpool Cathedral has welcomed the 12-month moratorium but insists the entire charging structure needs to be put on a fair basis.