UK braced for drought conditions to last until October

Dry grass in Blackheath, south-east London. South-east England has had 144 days with little or no rain since January. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

The UK is braced for drought conditions until October, with rivers forecast to be low and exceptionally low in central and southern England, according to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

This could have dire consequences for farming, as soil in much of the country is too dry to drill, and many crops for harvest next year and the end of this year need to be drilled by the end of October to be viable.