Four areas of England now in drought as heat threatens wildlife and crops

Low water levels expose the dried reservoir bed at Lindley Wood reservoir, Yorkshire. Yorkshire Water announced a hosepipe ban last month. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

Four areas of England are now in drought as the East and West Midlands have joined Yorkshire and the north-west.

Continuing hot and dry weather was a hazard to crop production and wildlife, ministers said, as they urged water companies to put hosepipe bans in place to conserve water as levels deplete.