Tankers brought in to 'keep taps flowing'

Thames Water said hot weather and high demand were presenting 'challenges' in parts of Surrey

Tankers have been brought in to "help keep taps flowing" for customers in a part of Surrey, a water company has said.

Thames Water said hot weather and high demand were presenting "challenges" in maintaining water supplies in south Guildford.

It urged people in the area to conserve water wherever possible, such as by taking shorter showers or turning off the tap while brushing their teeth.

"Our teams continue to work around the clock in the heat to deliver high-quality drinking water to our customers' taps," Thames Water said in a statement.

"Fortunately, our water resources remain in a reasonably healthy state," it added.

The South East has experienced scorching temperatures this week, with Tuesday confirmed by the BBC Weather Centre as the hottest day of the year so far.

The supply issues come as the beleaguered water company, which hiked bills for customers earlier this year, faces continued heavy criticism over its performance.

In May, Thames Water was fined £122.7m for breaching rules over sewage spills and shareholder payouts - the biggest penalty ever issued by water industry regulator Ofwat.

Struggling with £20bn in debt, it serves about a quarter of the UK's population, mostly across London and parts of southern England.