Summer drought fears after driest spring since 1956

DROUGHT conditions could return this summer after the driest start to spring in almost 70 years, the Environment Agency has warned.

- Steph Spyro

There is a “medium risk” of water shortages with reservoirs 84% full, the public body said yesterday.

Reservoir levels around the country are dropping and farmers are struggling to grow crops after the sunniest April on record and the second hottest.

It was preceded by less than half the average rainfall in March.

And it is England’s driest start to spring in March and April since 1956.

The Environment Agency said: “If the prolonged dry weather continues, water companies may need to implement their dry weather plans in the weeks and months ahead.”

The environmental regulator convened a meeting of the National Drought Group and said more needed to be done to cut leakage and help customers use water more wisely.

England had its driest March since 1961 with April getting just half its normal rainfall.

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