Residents urged to save water to help wildlife

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Water have urged households to save water and help animals and insects

People are being asked to collect water from their showers and not to cut their grass as regularly to help wildlife during the dry weather.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Water said there were a number of ways households could help animals and insects thrive in the region's current drought conditions.

Officials said rainfall in recent weeks would have been soaked up by dry soil and would not have touched rivers or reservoirs.

Andy Shaw, from Yorkshire Water, said it was "more important than ever" to save water in homes and gardens.

"By taking small steps to conserve and collect water in homes and gardens, we can share the supply and help wildlife thrive in our gardens," he added.

Creating a mini pond is one of the best ways to help wildlife during dry weather, officials said

Temperatures are set to soar to more than 30C (86F) this week and a drought has officially been declared in Yorkshire.

There have been warnings that hosepipe bans could come into force.

Homeowners have been advised to collect water in barrels or butts and to provide wet habitats such as puddling stations - a shallow dish with pebbles and water - birdbaths and mini ponds.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust also said keeping lawns longer could provide a home to insects which can feed bats and hedgehogs, while adding plants could provide shade to other animals.

Rachael Bice, the chief executive of the trust, said: "We need to learn to adapt to a changing climate which is the cause of more frequent and intense extreme weather events, like the drought conditions we've recently experienced.

"There's lots we can do though, simple changes in our gardens and at home, to continue to have attractive but resilient green spaces on our doorstep.

"Our gardens offer a network for nature... providing an incredible refuge for wildlife."

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