Three county reservoirs 'exceptionally low', with some less than half full

RESERVOIR levels had dropped below 50 per cent in 12 locations in England by the end of last month - including in Derbyshire - with a handful of sites only a third full, figures show.

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Affected areas include the Derwent Valley group, as well as reservoirs in Cumbria, Somerset, Staffordshire and Yorkshire.

In addition, Carsington and Ogston, and the Dove group, also in Derbyshire, are also in the “exceptionally low” category, although their levels are just above 50 per cent.

Total reservoir storage for England was 57 per cent of the long-term average at the end of August, down from 69 per cent at the end of July, according to the Environment Agency.

This was despite heavy rain during the final days of the month.

Several areas of England remain covered by hosepipe bans and are officially in drought after the warmest spring and summer on record.

England also had endure its second driest spring since Met Office data began.