Will there be a drought in England?

Experts are warning that water levels in rivers and reservoirs in England are low with five areas in the UK officially in drought.

The Environment Agency says it's a "nationally significant incident" as amber and yellow heat health warnings have been issued across the country.

Most of England is now in a state of drought or prolonged dry weather - that's the category below drought.

It comes after a lack of rain in March, April and May made it England's driest spring in 100 year according to the Met Office.

Aberdeenshire and Lothian in Scotland and western areas of Wales are also being closely monitored amid low water levels, according to water companies there.

Some reservoirs like this one in Bamford have low water levels

What is a drought?

A drought is caused by a period of low rainfall. They can last as little as a few weeks or up to a few years.

According to the Met Office, there are four common types of drought:

• Meteorological drought - when rainfall is below average for an area

• Ecological drought - when low water levels affect the environment

• Agricultural drought - when low water levels affect farming and how well crops grow

• Hydrological drought - when streams and reservoirs are low

How will the drought affect me?

The areas currently in a drought are: Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Yorkshire, East Midlands and West Midlands.

Meanwhile the North East, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, East Anglia, Thames, Wessex, Solent and South Downs are in a period of prolonged dry weather - the level down from drought.

Experts are meeting to discuss ways to save water in the UK during this next period of hot weather.

Some areas might be put under a hosepipe ban, which means households are asked not to use hosepipes to fill up things like paddling pools or to water plants to try and save water.

Yorkshire water say the ban has helped to save 80 million litres of water per day.