UK heatwave: Hampshire and Isle of Wight officially in drought

Parched grass at the cricket green in the village of Odiham in Hampshire

All of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is in drought, it has been announced.

An extended period of dry weather means the both counties have been classified as such.

A drought means water companies can announce stricter measures to conserve supplies. Southern Water has already implemented a hosepipe ban.

Temperatures could reach up to 37°C (99°F) this weekend as the south experiences yet another heatwave following the driest July since 1935.

The Environment Agency (EA) said essential water supplies were safe despite the driest start to the year in England since 1976.

It comes as a number of wildfires have broken out across the two counties due to the soaring temperatures, including an 800-tonne of straw catching alight and plans have been put in place to look after homeless people.

An amber heat warning remains in place for much of England until Sunday.

Morrisons has become the latest retailer to ban disposable barbecues amid repeated warnings about the risk they pose in such dry conditions.

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The EA has declared that eight parts of the UK are in drought. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are part of the Solent and South Downs region, which is in drought conditions.

John Curtin, executive director of operations for EA, told the BBC a drier than usual winter had exacerbated the situation.

He said: "It's weeks of rain we're going to need to recover over the winter. This drought will go on for a long time."