Half of England, including London, has been officially declared to be in a drought. The Environment Agency has identified seven regions affected by unusually hot and dry weather and a shortage of water. This flash drought developed quickly due to scorching temperatures and very low levels of rainfall, with July set to be the driest on record following winter floods.
The severe weather has caused rivers to run low and has significantly increased the risk of wildfires. Farmers are facing growing risks and have been forced to harvest their crops early because of the dry conditions.
As a result of the water shortage, millions of people are now living under restrictions on water use. Similar conditions are affecting other regions, with Wales on course for its driest July in almost 190 years.