Thames Water has said it is considering lifting its nine-month hosepipe and sprinkler ban.

The UK's largest water firm said there is a "growing prospect" that it will come to an end.

The ban, the first in 15 years, was introduced in April last year amid concerns over record lows in rainfall.

But the BBC's Weather Centre said that although there had been more rain than average recently, it was not enough to resolve the water shortage problems.

A spokesman for Thames Water, which provides water to eight million customers across London and the south-east of England, said: "The more it rains, the closer we get to lifting the ban.

"We have to look at how quickly - and to what extent - the surface water sinks down into the underground aquifers. We want to make absolutely sure that we are in a safe position for next spring and summer.

"There are no official plans as yet but it's looking promising."

'More rain needed'

But BBC weather forecaster Jay Wynne said it was too early for decisions to be made on ending the ban.

"We have had more rain than average, but we need months and months above average rainfall to get us back to anywhere near the confidence to have a full supply," he said.

Continued....


    Thoughts or comments? Please consider posting them to the discussion forum