Thames dries up just miles from Cotswolds source

Martin Carter, said he had never seen the Thames as dry as it is this summer

A stretch of the River Thames has dried up just seven miles from its source in the Cotswolds.

Residents of Ashton Keynes, in Wiltshire, say the river bed has been left dry and cracked with weeds growing in it.

On Friday households across the West were urged to save water after the declaration of a "nationally significant incident" caused by dry weather.

Thames Water said groundwater and river levels were continuing to fall because of five consecutive months of below-average rainfall.

Climate change has been blamed for causing world temperatures to rise, posing serious threats to people and nature including in the form of water shortages.

Many areas of the UK are already experiencing droughts this summer.

Martin Carter, whose home overlooks the water in Ashton Keynes, said: "This is the driest I have ever seen it. You can walk in there with a normal pair of shoes on and you're not getting any mud on them.

"We have lost all the fish and there is no other wildlife in there. The crayfish have even died which is not a bad thing - the American crayfish.

The source of the Thames is just over the border in Gloucestershire.

The bed of the river has been left dry and cracked with weeds coming through it

"It is awful, it has been like it for the last three months," added Mr Carter.

He added that downriver in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, which is 14.5 miles away, the water level was unaffected.

"The river is full there, there is no loss whatsoever," he said

Thames Water said the dry weather had contributed to the state of the river

Thames Water said: "The prolonged dry weather has significantly contributed to the drying of the watercourse at Ashton Keynes and both groundwater and river levels continue to fall due to five consecutive months of below average rainfall.

"We are following our drought plan which means we are aiming to reduce water use and protect our water resources and the environment."

The Environment Agency has been approached for comment.