Drought set to continue for another month

Weather forecasters warned yesterday that the drought could continue for at least another month before "substantial" rain brought relief to water supplies.

The Meteorological Office's latest monthly forecast predicted some light showers and cooler temperatures over the next week, possibly by tomorrow, but said longer periods of sustained rainfall were "unlikely" until mid- September

A Met Office spokesman said Scotland and Northern Ireland would have some showers over the next few days, while there could be thunder in the South at the weekend. But he added: "Although there is likely to be some rain and showers, it doesn't look like it is going to be enough to bring relief from the drought conditions."

It emerged yesterday that one of the much-criticised water companies is selling water to a neighbouring company. Each morning, tankers from Yorkshire Water arrive in the Cumbrian village of Kirkby Lonsdale just inside North-West Water territory, where customers are subject to a hosepipe ban. They plumb into the mains, fill up and drive back over the border into Yorkshire.

One million litres a day are being taken by the tankers to the isolated villages of High and Low Bentham 10 miles away, which normally rely upon a spring for their water. The spring dried up weeks ago.