Colin Skellett, the embattled chairman and chief executive of UK utility Wessex Water, has denied allegations that he was bribed to back a £1.2bn (€2bn) bid for his company.

Skellett, who was arrested and later released without being charged, said in a statement that "neither he nor any other Wessex Water directors were involved in the decision to sell". He added that "no payment, nor promise of payment, was made to him during the negotiations of the sale".