The final hosepipe bans in Kent have been lifted.

South East Water and Veolia say the recent heavy rain means supplies have recovered.

Restrictions were brought in back in April following two really dry winters.

A South East Water spokesman said the ban followed record low levels of groundwater supplies following the two-year drought. But rainfall since April has meant the underground aquifers are now recovering.

Paul Seeley, South East Water’s asset director, said: “We are pleased to be able to lift the restrictions and return to a normal service for customers.

"We would like to thank them for their support while they have been in place; their efforts have helped to keep demand for water well below levels normally experienced at this time of year.”

Three other companies – Sutton and East Surrey Water, Veolia Water Central and Veolia Water Southeast have also announced they are lifting their temporary use bans.

A South East Water spokesman said record-breaking low groundwater levels were recorded back in March at one of its measurement points at Duckpit Farm, near Canterbury.

Since then the region has experienced an exceptional amount of intense and prolonged rainfall, which has boosted groundwater levels at Duckpit Farm by around 15ft between April and June.

Paul Seeley said: “The increase in our underground resources brought about by the abnormally heavy spring rainfall is most welcome.

"Normally, only winter rainfall recharges the aquifers and so this recharge is unusual, and has seen some of the highest increases in water levels ever recorded in our area at this time of year."

Nigel Beaven, of Veolia, said the ban was initially placed after two years of very dry weather.

He added: "That left our aquifers, which is really the underground chalk natural reservoirs, where Veolia Water and Veolia Water South East get most of their water, extremely dry. Water levels were historically low.

"Since then we have had unprecedented weather, as I'm sure everyone now knows.

"It's taken a while for that water to actually get down into the ground, but it has actually now, and our groundwater levels have actually recovered quite a bit - although I would stress that they are much lower than normal."

At its height in part of the Veolia region, water levels were at least as bad as the scorching summer of 1976, with the driest weather for about 100 years.