KEITH TOZZI, the former boss of Mid Kent Water, is aiming to buy the supplier he used to run.

Mr Tozzi is among the likely bidders for the Snodland-based utility being sold by West LB, the German bank.

He was recently involved in the float of Augean, an investment company with a particular interest in waste and water companies.

Mid Kent Water was recently given the go-ahead to raise water prices by 15 per cent between 2005 and 2010.

The sale is part of the bank’s disposal strategy for investments sanctioned by Robin Saunders, former head of its London-based principal finance unit.

Mr Tozzi was formely chief executive of Swan Group, which runs Mid Kent Water.

His vision for the future of water supply in Kent at a time of rapid population and business growth attracted widespread interest. He believed it was essential to consolidate water supply and spelt out his ideas to the Government.

But following disagreements at the top, Mr Tozzi left the company. It heralded a time of upheaval, with his successor Robert Atwood departing soon after during a purge of senior management at companies financed by Ms Saundars and her unit. Neil McDougall replaced him.

Swan Group has since sold off two specialist companies previously owned by Mid Kent Holdings, Eclipse Scientific and Inenco, leaving Mid Kent Water as a water supplier only.

It continues to own 25 per cent of Bewl Water and 50 per cent - with Southern Water - of the land at Broad Oak, near Canterbury, a site designated for a possible reservoir.