Southern Water Shortage!

I was pretty worried to hear that the first summer of widespread water rationing in nearly 10 years is looming after a third supplier announced a hosepipe ban yesterday.

About 140,000 homes in Sussex will be covered by South East Water's restrictions, which follow one of the driest winters and springs on record. Thames Water said it might also have to ban sprinklers. Two companies have already introduced curbs.

Despite the mixed weather of the past few weeks, there has been a hidden drought since November. Rainfall has been below average for eight months, making it the fourth driest period since records began in 1892.

The problem is worst in the densely populated South and East, where rivers are at half their normal height for the time of year.