Reservoirs have reached their lowest levels and water restrictions are on the cards

Officials have warned that reservoir levels have reached their lowest levels as spring has been its driest since the 1890s.

In the northwest England, North east Yorkshire, East and West Midlands a drought has already been declared.

The Environment Agency (EA) has held their national drought meeting with officials and Thames Water said last month they are “not confident” they will be able to avoid water restrictions for their 16 million customers.

Met Office chief meteorologist Dr Will Lang said there is “much needed rainfall” and in June drier weather may continue.

Lang said, “After the driest spring for more than a century across England, the start of June has brought some much-needed rainfall with a mix of Atlantic weather systems interspersed with drier and sunnier periods expected to continue over the coming days.

“Most areas will experience showers at times with some seeing longer spells of rain.

“From mid-June onwards, the forecast becomes less clear with signs of drier conditions becoming more dominant across southern England.”

Helen Wakeham, EA director of water and National Drought Group chairwoman, said, “It’s been the driest spring since 1893, and we need to be prepared for more summer droughts as our climate changes.

“The recent rainfall is having a positive effect, but it hasn’t been enough to stop a drought in the North West and we must ensure we have enough water to last the entire summer.

“We are working with water companies, farmers and other abstractors to help them plan their water usage over the summer and urge people to be mindful about their daily use.”