As freak rainfall continues across the country, with many counties releasing flood alerts, B&Q is finding water butts are flying off the shelves quicker than they can restock them as customers look to capitalise on the extreme wet weather.  

 Sales of water butts at B&Q have more than tripled compared to the same period last year. The panic buying comes at a time when water companies are only now lifting hosepipe bans following the drought which hit the UK in 2006.

Consumers are keen to ensure they won’t get left high and dry in 2007 and are snapping up the water butts to collect rainfall while there is plenty available.  The recent announcement that water charges are increasing by an average of 7% across the country may also be prompting people to take steps to become more water efficient.   

John Gurr, category manager for watering at B&Q said: “It’s not surprising people are desperate to get their hands on a water butt – many people realised too late last year and were left without water when the hosepipe bans hit! The recent rainfall means now is the ideal time to install one, and if sales continue as they have over the past few days, we will be selling out again in record time this year.”