BREAKING: Peterborough officially enters drought

Peterborough is officially in drought after an exceptionally hot and dry summer, the Environment Agency has said.

Seven areas of England have now entered drought, including East Anglia.

The Environment Agency’s announcement comes amid Peterborough’s fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to hit 32C today (Wednesday, July 29).

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.”

Peterborough remains under a hosepipe ban imposed by Anglian Water on July 11.

The ban means residents are not allowed to use a hosepipe for things like watering plants or washing cars.