East coast rivers' 'record pressure'

RIVERS in Scotland's east coast are facing "record" pressure following a dry spring and summer.

- By Paul Drury and Ross Thomson

Environment watchdogs SEPA say 17 areas are now at "significant scarcity" for water - the highest number since the latest National Water Scarcity Plan was introduced. More areas could reach this level in the coming days.

In the Lower Spey, for example, the season has seen the highest number of low-flow days in 70 years.

In response, SEPA has now imposed restrictions on businesses extracting water in affected areas - taking the total in place so far this year to 270, the highest number ever issued.

SEPA head of water and planning David Harley said:"With 17 catchments now at significant scarcity, and more abstraction licences restricted than ever before, Scotland's rivers are under record pressure.

"This year has been highly unusual - we've not seen water scarcity conditions persist for this length of time before."