The Environment Agency is warning that drought and the risk of drought is not over in its latest drought information update.

Some rivers have responded to the rainfall in June and are now normal or above normal. Although most of England and Wales have now received average or above average rainfall for June, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire and western Norfolk remain in drought.

The Agency said that hot weather at the start of last week put added pressure on the environment – it had to rescue hundreds of fish from the Upper River Slea which was experiencing low water levels as a result of the drought. An area of the Upper Slea close to the South Kyme is also being closely monitored so action can be taken immediately if dissolved oxygen levels drop.

Most of the UK water companies have indicated that restrictions to the public water supply are unlikely this year.

Trevor Bishop, Head of Water Resources at the Environment Agency, said:

“The recent rain and unsettled weather has certainly helped the environment, farmers and water companies but does not mean the drought or risk of drought is over.”

“The Environment Agency, water companies and other water users such as farmers and industry have developed plans to cope with hot dry spells, however more dry weather in July will add further pressure on water resources. Without sustained rainfall over the next few weeks, we may see drought conditions spreading into central England and further east.”