YORKSHIRE people are spending an extra £121.5m a year by not choosing to pay household bills via direct debit, it is claimed.

A survey by BACS Payment Schemes Ltd, which promotes automated payment, said more than half of bill payers in Yorkshire were paying more than they had to for their gas, electricity, water and telephone.

People now paying their utilities bills by cheque could save up to £203 on average annual payments of £3,132 by using discounts available to direct debit users, it said.

The total average discount for those using Direct Debit to pay their bills had increased by 20% from £169 in 2003.

Yorkshire bill payers had the highest missed savings figure in the UK except for south-east England.

BACS spokesman Michael Chambers said: "Direct Debit provides please of mind that a bill will get paid on time as well as providing savings on household bills."