YORKSHIRE Water has launched its own sports drink - and it comes straight from the tap.

The company believes that good, old fashioned water is still the best when it comes to quenching thirst and staying hydrated while playing sports.

Tap water in Yorkshire was rated among the best in the country in the Drinking Water Inspectorate's annual survey. Yorkshire Water was given a 99.95% rating for the quality of its water.

Sgt Harvey Walden, the tough- talking US Marine who puts people through their paces on ITV's Fat Club and Celebrity Fat Club, has been enrolled to help re-launch cold water as Icytonic - a drink with no colourings or calories that only costs a penny for two litres.

Yorkshire Water's director of water business, Richard Flint said: "What with Euro 2004 and the Olympic Games, 2004 is a huge year for sport and we wanted to get the message across that tap water is the ideal sports drink.

"To do this we have created our own sports drink which is not only sugar and calorie free but available from any cold tap in Yorkshire!"