Low water levels in nearly all of region's rivers

Low water alert The River Cree

- STUART GILLESPIE

Fears are growing about low water levels in nearly all of Dumfries and Galloway's rivers.

SEPA has issued an alert for the catchment areas of the Nith, Dee and Cree.

They join the River Esk and River Annan at that level as the warm temperatures and dry weather set to continue.

It means 23 of Scotland's rivers are now at alert level-the second stage on the four rung water scarcity rating system.

SEPA's senior manager in water industry and rural economy, Eilidh Johnston, said: "With no rainfall forecast across Scotland in the coming days we expect ground conditions to continue getting drier and river flows to decrease or remain low.