Wessex Water has today announced a hosepipe ban after months of unprecedented dry weather, heatwaves and a continued lack of rain forecast, which has led to sustained high demand for water.

South West Water has announced today it will introduce temporary restrictions on hosepipe use for all customers across Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has thanked customers across mid and south Ceredigion, north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire for reducing their water use following the introduction of a Temporary Hosepipe Ban.

Half of England has been declared in drought by the Environment Agency - seven areas of the countare ry now officially in drought after record low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures.

Following the driest spring in years, three official heatwaves, record temperatures and sustained high demand, Thames Water is introducing a Temporary Use Ban (TUB), also known as a hosepipe ban, for all customers it supplies with drinking water.

South East Water is introducing temporary restrictions on the use of hosepipes introduced across South East Water's supply areas in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire; customers in the company’s Kent supply area are already subject to temporary hosepipe restrictions.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has warned that it is likely to introduce a ‘hosepipe ban’ this weekend across Mid and South Ceredigion, together with parts of North Pembrokeshire and North Carmarthenshire, unless exceptionally high water demand reduces over the coming days.

Cambridge Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban to help protect local water resources and the region’s internationally important chalk streams.

Anglian Water has announced a temporary water use ban – also known as a hosepipe ban - for the East of England - the utility has not needed to implement a hosepipe ban for more than a decade.

South East Water is moving to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers for customers in Kent with immediate effect to ensure that the company can provide a consistent public water service for all its customers in the county.