Four water companies have announced hosepipe bans in the UK, as another heatwave is set to scorch the country this week.

Sizzling heat, exceeding 40C for the first time on record in the UK in July, combined with England’s driest eight months from November to June since 1976, has turned many green spaces tinder-dry.

The Met Office has also identified two Essex locations which have experienced less than 250mm of rain since November 2021.

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They are Shoebury and Writtle.

Thames Water is the latest to announce that it expects to implement a temporary usage ban (TUB) in the coming weeks due to the dry weather.

Anglian Water and Affinity Water, which both cover Essex, have outlined their current guidelines concerning hosepipe bans and water usage, alongside water leakage statistics.

Here is what they say:

Affinity Water

Customers: 3.83 million

Leakage per property per day in 2020-2021: 120 litres

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Parts of Essex covered by Affinity Water are “unlikely” to see any hosepipe ban this year.

The company’s website says: “At current levels, it’s unlikely we’ll need to introduce restrictions this year.”

Anglian Water

Customers: Six million

Leakage per property per day in 2020-2021: 86 litres

A spokesman said: “We have no hosepipe bans currently in place across our region, and we’re working hard to keep it that way.

“But we’re watching river levels very closely right now, as things can change quickly and the forecast for this month remains dry and warm.”

Essex and Suffolk Water has also confirmed it has no plans to impose a hosepipe ban.

A spokesman for the water company said: "Our reservoirs remain at healthy levels for this time of year and we are not currently anticipating any restrictions this summer.

"However, we are now experiencing a dry and hot period of weather and very high water demand.

"As always, we are encouraging our customers to use water wisely."