Yorkshire enters drought after driest spring in 132 years

Ardsley reservoir near Wakefield, West Yorkshire. This year was Yorkshire’s warmest spring for mean temperature since records began in 1884. Photograph: Richard McCarthy/PA

Yorkshire has become the second area of England to enter drought after the country recorded its driest spring in 132 years.

Hosepipe bans could be possible if the region did not have significant rainfall in the coming weeks as, despite recent showers, reservoir stocks were continuing to dwindle. Yorkshire Water reservoir stocks dropped 0.51% over the last week to 62.3%, significantly below the average of 85.5% for this time of year.