Dry weather hits water reserves

United Utilities, which supplies water to the area, will make an application for a drought permit tomorrow after many reservoirs dropped to under half of their capacity.

Despite the shortage in the North West, the Environment Agency said there was "little threat" to supplies elsewhere in England and Wales.

Trevor Bishop, head of water resources at the agency, said: "We are working closely with United Utilities to make sure they are doing everything they can to secure water supplies, manage customer demand and tackle leakage.

"Drought also has serious consequences for wildlife, and Environment Agency officers are increasing river monitoring to manage any environmental impacts from drought."

The agency said the North West had seen its driest start to the year since 1929.

Rainfall in May was 38 per cent of the region's long-term average, with June following a similar theme, the agency said.