Scotland's east coast is facing record pressure on its rivers, with 17 areas now at Significant Scarcity - the highest number since the current version of the National Water Scarcity Plan was introduced.

The National Drought Group is warning of growing concerns over the potential impacts of prolonged dry weather on the environment.

The Environment Agency will be using drones for the first time this summer to gather information about illegal abstraction in East Anglia’s fenland areas.

The NFU has made renewed appeals to Secretary of State for Food and the Environment Michael Gove to assist farm businesses still suffering from the impacts of agricultural drought, having seen “little Government action” since the NFU’s emergency summit on August 1.

The Environment Agency has published details of its proposal to cancel a number of existing abstraction licences for three industrial water users.

The government has published a new plan to reform abstraction management aimed at protecting the environment while improving access to water where it is needed most.

The Environment Agency and  Natural Resources Wales have published  the Abstraction Licensing Strategy for the river Wye catchment setting out the licensing principles, information on water availability for further abstraction and how the organisations will manage existing abstraction licences in the catchment.

The Environment Agency is proposing to vary and revoke two abstraction licences as part of a programme to help restore sustainable abstraction aimed at protecting the River Wensum Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Government have published a summary of responses to the consultation on reform of the abstraction licensing regime which highlights a number of key issues over proposed changes.

The Environment Agency has published proposals to reduce abstractions by Thames Water in order to protect the River Kennet – one of three of the UK's iconic 'chalk streams' - unique river systems found only in England and pockets of northern France.