A million more Britons hit with water restrictions in latest hosepipe ban
The restrictions will commence from 9am on Monday, following the driest UK spring in decades.
Millions of households are already facing water restrictions, with similar bans implemented or announced by other utility firms like Yorkshire and Thames Water.
Reservoir levels across England are critically low at 75.6 per cent, with some areas like Yorkshire at 53.8 per cent.
The Environment Agency has warned of further bans, as drought status has been declared in several English regions, including the East and West Midlands.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
England stars taken off pitch due to LIGHTNING strikes as match delayed by an hour
England completed their tour of the Americas by beating the USA 40-5 in Washington DC, but Steve Borthwick's players had to contend with a 40-minute delay during the first half England's rugby union stars were forced off the pitch during their clash with the USA because of lightning strikes. Steve Borthwick's side, missing key players amid the ongoing British & Irish Lions series, were continuing their tour of the Americas after two impressive wins over Argentina. Saturday marked England's first match in the USA since 2001. The fixture took place at Audi Field in Washington DC and kick-off had already been pushed back due to adverse weather conditions. Then in the first half, with England 14-0 up, lightning caused another delay lasting 40 minutes. England Rugby posted on social media: "Due to lightning strikes in the vicinity of Audi Field in Washington DC, players have been removed from the field of play." Lengthy delays were recently seen at football's Club World Cup in the USA. Chelsea and Benfica were forced to wait inside the changing rooms for nearly two hours during their match which was the sixth to be delayed due to weather conditions at the tournament. England eventually cruised to a 40-5 win, with captain George Ford making four conversions. Ford, 32, admitted that the conditions were challenging but was proud of his team-mates' efforts. "The conditions were difficult but it was a good group effort and a huge experience for the new players," the England skipper commented. Boss Borthwick handed debuts to Gabriel Oghre, Max Ojomoh, Joe Carpenter, Arthur Clark, Charlie Atkinson and Oscar Beard. The 45-year-old was full of praise for the youngsters in the circumstances. "They were challenging conditions, and with the weather break the game has lasted a long time," Borthwick said. "It's a scenario none of us have faced before - to deal with those conditions, with six new caps in the team today, was magnificent. "There are things you want to do better, yes, but I thought they were brilliant. I'm pleased with the way the players have approached all the games - all three were very different, and it's been a great experience in so many ways. Will the weather conditions negatively affect the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Have your say in the comments section. "We've had 10 new caps over three Tests and got depth developing - we can all see the physical nature of the team, which is athletic, quick, fit and the way the England team's moving." The ex-second row played last time England faced the USA across the pond. Sir Clive Woodward's team beat the hosts 48-19 in San Francisco - but Saturday was a very difference experience. "My memories were we were getting changed in the swimming pool changing room, so a leisure complex!" Borthwick laughed. "Playing here in such a unique, brilliant stadium. It's very different, which is terrific to see." England are on a run of seven successive victories, their longest winning streak since 2020 and a sign that confidence is growing after a difficult period last year. They'll take on Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina at Twickenham when the autumn internationals come around.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
More than half a month's rainfall possible in next day as summer storms hit
Parts of the country could see half a month's rainfall in the next 24 hours with lightning, hail and gusty winds also forecast. Yellow weather warnings for rain and thunderstorms are in place for large swathes of the country on Sunday evening, with more coming into force on Monday. Much of Scotland, northern England, Wales and the south-west of England remain under yellow weather warnings until 10pm on Sunday, where localised flooding remains possible. Eastern parts of Northern Ireland are covered by a 24-hour weather warning, from 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday, where heavy rain is expected to cause some disruption and the possibility of flooding. Simon Partridge, Met Office forecaster, said: 'It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. 'They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours.' The country records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a month's rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. Flooding is also possible, the Met Office said, and parts of England and Scotland may also see 20-40mm of rain in just two hours on Monday. From 3am until 9pm on Monday, the south and east of England are covered by a yellow thunderstorm warning. By 11am the same warning will be in place for the Midlands, northern England and Scotland. More than 10 flood alerts remain active in Scotland and where there is flooding or lightning the Met Office has warned of a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. There is also a small chance of power cuts and a small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life. 'Certainly a significant amount rainfall in a couple of hours, which will bring some local issues,' Mr Partridge said. 'You will see quite a lot of water on the roads and difficult driving conditions. 'Hopefully nothing more significant than that, it certainly won't be an issue for any of the rivers because they are quite low.' Low pressure and humid, moist air across the country will cause the heavy, thundery showers, but even within the warning areas some places will stay dry, the Met Office said. 'There is a good chance of seeing some lightning and some hail, with some gusty winds as well,' Mr Partridge said. 'One bit of good news is it has been very muggy overnight. Tonight will be less muggy across the southern half of the UK.' The rest of the week is set to be changeable, with showers still likely on Tuesday and heavy, thundery showers possible in the south-east of England on Wednesday. Temperatures this week will hover around average for the time of year, the national weather service said.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Aldi's 75p staple owned by new parents will keep plants thriving WITHOUT a hosepipe
A 75P staple for new parents is key to helping your plants thrive during the hosepipe ban. Following an incredibly dry spring and summer, hosepipe bans are being introduced by Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, Southern Water and South East Water. 2 While the bans are in force, homeowners are not allowed to use hosepipes for activities such as watering plants or filling up paddling pools, with fines of up to £1000 issued to those who flout the rules. With the weather remaining relatively dry, gardeners will be concerned about how their precious plants will cope with the heat. However, Morris Hankinson, Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries has revealed how you can keep your plants blooming without flouting the ban. Unused nappies Morris revealed that unused nappies are great for placing in the soil around plants, as they retain soil really well. "They retain water like crazy and release it slowly to the roots during any dry spells", he revealed Nappies are super cheap, and can be picked up from Aldi for just 75p. Waterbutts With storm warnings in place for parts of the UK this weekend, now is a good time to invest in a waterbutt to collect rainwater in. You can water your plants with the water you have collected, meaning you don't need to use any mains water to keep your plants hydrated. Morris added that you can even use your own bathwater to water plants. "It doesn't matter if it looks a bit scuzzy, as the traces of skin cells and mild soap can actually act as a natural fertiliser, so long as you use it within 24 hours", he revealed. How to look after your plants in a heatwave, according to a plant doctor KELLY Dyer, the Plant Doctor at Patch Plants is warning plant lovers about the adverse affects of unseasonably strong direct sunlight, and how to best look after both your indoor and outdoor plants during a heatwave. Indoor plants: Don't mist your plants as water will evaporate and could scorch them Don't use aircon as it dries the air out Don't let plants touch glass as they could get scorched Monitor moisture levels to see if you need to increase watering Outdoor plants: Water your outside plants in the morning and evenings when it's cooler When you water your outside plants, water the soil, not the leaves If you have outdoor plants on a veranda, patio or balcony, you can keep them cooler and increase the humidity by wetting the hard surfaces Pests are on the move so regularly apply natural bug control spray to indoor and outdoor plants Recycle pasta water Another cheap hack is to reuse the water you use to cook your pasta in. "It's rich in starch and a great natural fertiliser. "It's rich in starch and a great natural fertiliser", the expert explained. Sink a flowerpot next to your plants Another simple trick is to sink a flowerpot in to the soil, next to your plants. Morris explained: "This will help the water you apply sink down to the roots instead of evaporating on the surface." Water plants in the evening During the summer, it's best to water your plants in the evening, when it's cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water before it is evaporated. Mulch beds and containers Morris recommended mulching beds and containers, as this helps to keep roots cool. He explained: "You can use many different materials from bark chips to coir, even old newspapers, straw or lawn mowings. "Climbers like clematis or passionflowers will even thank you for a paving slab covering their roots. "
