Hosepipe ban looms in wake of dry winter

It has been the driest winter since 1933, figures show today.

Despite snow and the odd downpour, forecasters say only 237mm of rain has fallen since November, making it the third driest winter since records began.

Water chiefs admitted the weather has left London on the verge of a hosepipe ban for the first time in 15 years.

"Our reservoirs are in good shape, but the boreholes under London are only 50 per cent full.

"Unless we have substantial rainfall in the coming months we will have to look at imposing restrictions, which could include a hosepipe and sprinkler ban," said a Thames Water spokeswoman.

"We would need roughly double the amount of rain for April for things to get back to normal."

The Met Office predicts little rain for the next four weeks. "Over the winter our weather has come from the continent rather than from the Atlantic," said a spokesman. "There has been a real lack of south-westerly wind, so it has been cold and dry."