A keen weather watcher fears a hosepipe ban could be imposed this summer following an exceptionally dry winter and start to spring.

Peter Gay, who writes for the Kentish Gazette's monthly Nature Notes column, believes the restriction is “inevitable” if the conditions continue.

From his own measurements taken in Elham, Mr Gay says October and December were the driest this century, followed by the hottest March day he has recorded since 2003, with the temperature hitting 20.7C.

But South East Water insists there is no need to panic if customers are sensible with their usage, and says it does not foresee any restrictions.

Mr Gay said: “The aquifers have not been replenished and any water in the ground is also being sucked up by spring growth. Unless we receive very heavy rain soon a hosepipe ban seems inevitable.”

Supplier South East Water says in warmer weather, peak demand can reach 700 million litres a day.

The supply is taken principally from underground aquifers, but also from rivers and surface reservoirs, within strict limits set by the Environment Agency.

"Unless we receive very heavy rain soon a hosepipe ban seems inevitable" - Peter Gay

But the Agency is also reporting “notably low” river levels in the Great Stour.

It is being felt by Rod McCleod, the owner of Canterbury’s Westgate Punts, who said: “The sunshine is great for the visitors and business but the river by the bridge is down to about 18 inches – quite a bit lower than it would normally be at this time of year and only just passable.

“It means we have to be careful how many people the punts are loaded with.”

South East Water’s head of water resources and environment, Lee Dance, says the firm is confident a hosepipe ban will not be enforced.

“It has been a drier than normal winter, but we do not envisage bringing in hosepipe use or other restrictions this summer,” he said.

“Whatever the weather, we ask our customers to use water wisely, especially in the drier summer months.

“Just simple things like taking a shower rather than a bath, turning off the tap while brushing teeth and fixing leaking taps can have a huge impact the amount of water households use.”

The water firm is, however, concerned about future supply in east Kent due to massive house-building plans and wants to create a vast new reservoir at Broad Oak.

Mr Dance say the proposal is part of its 25-year water management plan and if approved could be in operation by 2033.

He said: “Over the next five years our specialist teams will be carrying out further feasibility studies surrounding the proposal to build the reservoir and these will include environmental studies and further consultation with the public and interested organisations.”