A double water-pipe burst has led to road closures in a town. Water could be seen bubbling up and flowing along South Street and Edward Street in Hythe, Hampshire, early on Wednesday. Southern Water said the leak had been reported online and its engineers were on site making repairs. It said road closures were also being put in place.

Southern Water has become the latest company to bring in a hosepipe ban, to protect rare chalk stream habitat, as England battles exceptionally dry weather.The company said restrictions on hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens,

HOSEPIPE ban loopholes mean people can still water their lawns or even full up a hot tub despite emergency measures in place to combat drought. It comes as two new regions declared low levels of

After the driest spring in more than a century, followed by the UK’s hottest June on record, the first hosepipe bans of 2025 have been announced.

There are a growing number of water providers issuing hosepipe bans with millions of people being told they cannot use theirs. So, what are the hosepipe ban rules and how can you save your sorry-looking lawn?

Suggesting mulching as a way to keep your plants healthy during a hosepipe ban, the experts add: "Adding mulch or compost around the base of plants slows evaporation and helps soil retain moisture for longer - keeping watering efforts to a minimum.

Wessex Water, which serves most of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, as well as parts of Dorset and Gloucestershire, has not introduced a hosepipe ban since 1976. It said there were a number of factors at play, including the fact 75% of its water source came from groundwater, which it said was more resilient against dry weather.

Thames Water announced its hosepipe or temporary use ban (TUB) after the EA placed much of its area in its "prolonged dry weather" category, one away from drought status. The EA said it expects more water companies to follow with their own TUBs, although it will be dependent on rainfall and temperatures in the weeks ahead.