'Help us to conserve water'

Plea as Staffordshire in grip of a 'developing drought'

- Kerry Ashdown

RESIDENTS are being urged to play their part in conserving water following the driest spring in more than a century - as water bosses deal with a 'developing drought' situation in Staffordshire.

The Environment Agency declared a drought in the north west of England in May - before meteorological summer had even started - and the region covered by Severn Trent Water only saw around 39% of the average rainfall that would be expected in spring.

The dry conditions mean that Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek, is currently at around 63% of normal water capacity. And across the area covered by the water company, overall levels are at around 76%.