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WATER company bosses have warned people in Gloucestershire that they must conserve supplies in the dry weather.

But they say no hosepipe ban will be in place for the foreseeable future.

Homeowners are being urged to take showers instead of baths and to avoid using hoses and sprinklers.

The advice comes because it is the driest start to the year in the UK since 1964.

A spokesman for Severn Trent Water said: "We are in a position where we have seen months of very dry weather in the Severn Trent water area.

"After the past few summers, it is odd talking about having to be careful with water supplies, but that is where we are.

"Although Gloucestershire is not the driest part of our patch, we are still asking people to be careful with their supplies."

He said the firm was urging people to be sensible.

"It includes not using sprinklers on your garden, or using a sponge instead of a hosepipe to wash your car," he said.

"We would also suggest taking a shower instead of a bath and installing a water butt in the garden to catch any rainfall there is - and to use that to water your garden.

"These measures will help us to avoid serious problems if the dry weather continues.

The Echo's weather expert Ian Thomas said he was not surprised by the advice.

He said: "I was in Wales on holiday and have been by the Nant-y- Moch reservoir. It does not supply Gloucestershire, but it does show what water supplies are like - it must be 35ft lower than its capacity at present.

"Nationally we have had the driest start to a year since 1964, while in the county the first five months are the driest since 2003."

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