Water levels in many reservoirs and lakes have plummeted to less than half their capacity due to the region's driest start to the year since 1929.

Despite spells of rain over recent weeks, supply levels have failed to sufficiently increase and United Utilities have now announced the "temporary" ban will come into force from 6am on Friday 9th July but may last into the spring of 2011. The last ban began in the hot summer of 1995 and lasted 14 months.

It will restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers for watering gardens and washing cars. See our ‘News’ article for more details