Parts of Kent will remain under a hosepipe ban until next year.

Thames Water are expected to keep the ban in place following one of the driest Summers on record.

The company introduced restrictions in August alongside South East Water – which also has a ban still in place across large parts of the county.

The ban also covers parts of Sussex, but some areas in both counties escaped the restrictions.

However, residents in Dartford and Sevenoaks are affected by the Thames Water rules, which include a £1,000 fine for anyone caught using a hose.

The firm said that the recent rainfall had not made up for 10 months of dry heat.

Andrew Tucker, Thames Water's water demand manager, said there was no date for when the hosepipe ban would end but that it was not likely to be lifted until the new year.

He told the BBC: We are still trying to recover from a really tough year that Mother Nature threw at us.

"Ten of the last 12 months have been below average rainfall. We've had a little bit in September and we can see the grass is now greening up but an average September doesn't make up for 10 months of dry and record heat.

"We've got to make sure that we've got enough water going forward for everyone in the longer term."