by Alan Watkins

awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

So little rain fell last year that a water company is urging residents to spring to the defence of their river.

Thames Water was at one time responsible for the River Darent drying out as they pumped millions of gallons of water into their reservoirs.

Now with underground stocks of water drying out, and only 75% of the rain expected, the water company is urging people to Defend the Darent.

Mobile poster campaigns have started touring Eynsford, Swanley, Farningham, Hextable and Joyden's Wood to hammer home the message to conserve water.

Subterranean aquifers are still "exceptionally low", according to the Environment Agency, despite recent torrential rain.

Richard Aylard, from Thames Water, said: "Sixteen of the last 21 months have seen below average rainfall .

"There is still a very real risk of a drought next summer."

Protect Kent - the Kent branch of CPRE - last week said the county had had its driest spring for more than a century.

"The untypical weather of 2011 suggests this normal rainfall cannot be relied upon to appear," said one of its managers, Andrew Ogden.

He renewed calls for adequate water resources to be in place before any development is allowed in the county.