More than half of England officially in drought, Environment Agency says

Drought has been declared across more than half of England as hot, dry weather takes its toll on the country's water supplies.

The Environment Agency (EA) says that seven regions – covering large parts of central, eastern and southern England – are now in official drought conditions.

July saw 7% of the expected levels of rainfall in England, with just 1% across southern England.

It adds that the impacts are already being felt, including low river flows, early harvests and high risk of wildfires. Millions of people are already under hosepipe bans.

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: "The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it."

North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin entered drought conditions last week, Natural Resources Wales said.

Scotland does not declare drought but monitors "water scarcity". Some parts of eastern Scotland are in the most extreme category of "significant scarcity".