Drought Declared in West, East Midlands Amid Hosepipe Ban Surge

Drought has been declared in the West and East Midlands of England amid one of the driest springs on record, prompting warnings of further hosepipe bans across the country. The Environment Agency's National Drought Group has escalated its operational response, urging the public to use water wisely to sustain supplies through the summer. Thames Water and other companies have already imposed hosepipe bans affecting millions of customers in multiple counties, with more areas potentially entering drought status depending on upcoming rainfall and temperatures. Farmers are particularly impacted, facing challenges in crop growth and irrigation due to the dry conditions, raising concerns about agricultural yields. Water companies like Anglian Water are monitoring water levels closely and encouraging conservation efforts to protect both human and environmental water needs amid prolonged heat and low rainfall. Forecasts suggest some relief with cooler, wetter weather on the way, but the drought situation remains precarious with the risk of additional hot spells.