A drought has been declared across the south west.

The National Drought Group, made up of government officials, water companies and other groups including the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) met this morning and announced the drought at 12 noon today (Friday).

Temperatures hitting 35C will make the UK hotter than parts of the Caribbean this weekend.

July was the hottest on record since 1976 and the first half of this year has been the driest since 1976.

The south west is already on an amber alert for extreme heat and Dorset and Wiltshire were today placed on a red alert for fire.

There is also a heat health alert in place from the UK Health Security Agency, with advice to pay particular care to children, elderly people and those with existing health conditions.

The ongoing dry conditions, combined with last month’s record-breaking heatwave, have depleted rivers and reservoirs.

The tinder-dry soil, extreme temperatures and early harvest have already contributed to hundreds of field fires and machinery fires across the south west.

As yet, South West Water has not issued a hosepipe ban, although bans are in place in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Yorkshire.

Drought has also been declared in parts of southern and central England, and the east of England.