The Environment Agency has issued a drought permit that will allow Yorkshire Water to reduce how much water is released from the Grimwith Reservoir to “top up” natural flows within the River Wharfe.

Southern Water has issued a statement clarifying its recent application for a Drought Order at the River Test following what it describes as “misleading media coverage”.

South West Water is urging customers to reduce non-essential water usage by extending the Temporary Use Ban, otherwise known as a hosepipe ban, which is already in place in Cornwall and parts of North Devon, to other parts of Devon.

A series of drought measures have been granted in Yorkshire, which will allow Yorkshire Water to protect reservoir levels through winter and into 2023 as the region's reservoirs remain below usual levels despite recent rainfall.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has granted an application by the Environment Agency for a drought order under Section 73 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

The National Drought Group is meeting this morning as the Environment Agency is warning that parts of England could enter “drought” status due to the prolonged dry weather and record temperatures.

The Environment Agency yesterday made an application to Defra for a Drought Order which will help to prevent the Holme Styes reservoir in Holmfirth from running dry.

United Utilities is urging its customers to conserve water – the company said it needs people to keep taking care with their water usage, because reservoir levels are still lower than they should be.

Scottish Water has today applied for a drought order in areas of Dumfries and Galloway as part of its ongoing strategy to manage the water supply in the region.