Water firm lifts hosepipe ban after four months

Thames Water's ban came into force on 22 July

A water company has lifted a hosepipe ban that came into force four months ago.

Thames Water's restriction covered 1.1m customers, mainly in Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

The firm said restrictions could end because of above-average rainfall as well as customers' efforts to conserve supplies.

However, it said people should continue to "use water wisely" to allow reservoirs to fill up for the summer.

The ban prevented the use of hosepipes in most circumstances in the OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8, and RG9 postcode areas from 22 July.

The postal districts also cover parts of Buckinghamshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Nevil Muncaster, the firm's strategic water resources director, said: "We would like to say a big thank you to our customers for their support in helping to protect water supplies over the past few months.

"The rain over the last few weeks... allows us to now lift usage restrictions.

"We're encouraging all our customers to keep using water wisely over the winter months so water resources in our region continue to recharge."

Thames Water said Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford, which is fed by the River Thames, had recovered to 90% storage, which was normal for the time of year.

However, storage in London remained below average, it said.

The region experienced above-average rainfall in September, October and November, according to the firm.

Previously, rainfall from March to August was about half of the long-term average, the company added.