Severe drought declared in six areas of England as public water supplies under threat

Some reservoirs in south-east and south-west at critically low levels as water companies call for non-essential user bans on businesses

A severe drought has been declared in six areas of England with some reservoirs at critically low levels, threatening public supplies.

Parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex have moved into severe drought, and urgent measures are being taken to secure public supplies of water after the UK experienced its hottest summer on record.