An extremely dry spring combined with lockdown has led water companies to urge householders to use less water.

Both Anglian Water and Severn Trent Water made the plea this week as fine weather continued and water pressure has reportedly fallen in some areas.

Severn Trent yesterday said this was creating areas of 'low pressure' in the system , forcing the company to make deliveries of water to certain parts of Rutland and Leicestershire.

It's reservoirs were 85 per cent full, the company said, but May rainfall has been 5-10 per cent of normal, with some areas just having rain on one day.

Liv Garfield, CEO at Severn Trent, said: "We're seeing the highest demand we've ever seen in our history at the moment.

"Our treatment works are already working at maximum and our pipes are carrying treated water as fast as they can to everyone, but the huge spike in demand means we're seeing poor pressures in some areas as people use it up as fast as we can get it to them.

"We know everyone's enjoying the sunny weather, but we're appealing for them to cut back on non-essential use, especially outside, where they can over the next week. That'll really help us keep up and make sure everyone gets the water they need for handwashing, cooking and drinking."

Severn Trent has offered to make donations to charity should consumers cut back on their water use.

Anglian Water makes similar comments.

Director of Water Services for Anglian Water, Paul Valleley said: "Since lockdown began, we have seen an increase in the demand for water as people wash their hands more, stay hydrated and use more for DIY in their homes and gardens.

"On average water use has risen by between five and 10 per cent since lockdown began, but we've seen peaks of up to 20 percent which is unprecedented for this time of year."

Paul continued: "As key workers our engineers have been working hard throughout lockdown to keep taps running and toilets flushing. The risk, if we continue to see peak demand levels like these is that only so much water we can treat and put into the network at any one time. If everyone draws on that supply at the same time, we could see water pressures dip, meaning it can't flow from the taps so freely.

"After a wet winter our water supplies are in a good position with reservoirs 90% full and groundwater levels healthy. The cooler temperatures forecast later this week will give our reserves some reprieve, but we need help from our customers to continually manage their usage while we're all still at home.

"That's why we're asking people to use the water they need to stay hydrated and healthy, but please think carefully about discretionary use and reuse water wherever possible, to help us keep taps running this summer."