A temporary North West hosepipe ban has been lifted today.

A temporary North West hosepipe ban has been lifted today (19 August).

The ban was imposed by water company United Utilities in July to help safeguard water supplies to its customers, following the driest December-to-June spell to hit the region in over 70 years.

The company said significant rainfall had enabled it to end the ban.

Supply demand manager Richard Blackwell said: "Reservoir levels have risen in recent weeks in Cumbria and North Wales and have stabilised in the Pennines with the rainfall of the last month.

"We now have sufficient reservoir storage overall to be able to lift the ban. This will come as welcome news to our customers, who have been extremely patient and conscientious in their water usage."

Since the ban was introduced, United Utilities says its customers have saved 4 billion litres of water.

Blackwell added: "Although the ban is over, some of our reservoirs are still very low. So it's important that people continue to do what they can to save water around the home and garden."