Do not call 999 on hosepipe users, police say

Yorkshire Water says the region had experienced its driest and warmest spring on record

Police have warned people not to phone 999 if they see someone disobeying the hosepipe ban that begins on Friday in Yorkshire.

From 11 July, using a hose for tasks such as gardening, filling a paddling pool and washing a car will be prohibited and anyone flouting the restriction could be fined up to £1,000.

But West Yorkshire Police has said that calling them to report someone using a hosepipe could prevent officers from "helping someone in a real emergency".

The ban, announced by Yorkshire Water on Tuesday, will affect more than five million people and is the first to be declared by a major utility company in the UK this year.

Reservoir levels across Yorkshire are at a record low, according to Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire has experienced its driest and warmest spring on record, with only 15cm of rainfall between February and June - less than half of what would be expected in an average year.

Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said the restrictions were "intended to make sure we have enough supply for the essential needs of people across the region this year and next as well as making sure we are able to protect our local environment".

The ban applies to customers across much of Yorkshire, parts of North Lincolnshire and parts of Derbyshire.

Yorkshire Water has said that if the company is repeatedly told about someone breaking the restrictions, the first thing they would do is to "remind them of their obligations".

If they continue to use their hosepipe, the firm could take enforcement action, a spokesperson said.

According to Yorkshire Water, reservoir levels currently stand at just over 50% - a record low for the time of the year and "significantly below" the average for early July, which is nearer 80%.

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