Water companies not imposing hosepipe bans in Kent should rethink their plans, says the environment secretary.

George Eustice believes the whole county should be hit with restrictions set to be enforced in large parts of the county from Friday.

Homes in areas including Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, Ashford, Sevenoaks, Canterbury and Whitstable will be covered by a ban imposed by South East Water.

But other areas, including Margate, Dover, Folkestone and Sheerness, will escape any restrictions as they have their water services managed by Affinity Water or Southern Water.

Mr Eustice believes companies which have not yet imposed a ban should do so to mitigate the effects of the prolonged dry weather.

He made the comments as the country faces high temperatures during an unusually dry August.

Mr Eustice wrote in The Sunday Telegraph: “In accordance with their drought plans, water companies across the country have rightly taken action to mitigate the effects of this prolonged dry weather using the range of tools available to them.

“I strongly urge others to do the same."

His remarks, the first public intervention by ministers, signal possible restrictions on watering gardens, washing cars or filling pools with hosepipes for millions more people across southern England in the coming days.

It comes as forecasters predict the warm weather will continue for most of the UK into next week, when conditions will stay dry and settled with little rain or wind.

Neighbours of people breaching the ban have been urged by water companies to alert officials, with the guilty party facing a £1,000 fine.

KentOnline readers were asked whether or not they would inform on anyone spotted flouting the ban, with people in the county strongly suggesting they wouldn't.

Meteorologists have urged people to avoid the midday sun and stay in the shade as the arid weather looks set to last another seven to 10 days.

Highs of 27C and 28C are expected to hit parts of south and south-east England on Sunday, with sunny spells forecast throughout the day for most of the country.

Met Office senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: “England and Wales will be dry with sunny spells on Sunday.

“Maximum temperatures tomorrow will be around 27 and possibly 28C which would be across central and southern and southeast England area.

“It will still be in the sun further north, even to the east of Scotland we might see 23C.”