A water firm is taking action to prevent a hosepipe ban - after the driest 10 months since the Victorian era!

Southern Water is hoping to be granted a drought permit by the Environment Agency, which would allow it to take more water from the River Medway.

That would then be pumped into Bewl Water reservoir at Lamberhurst, which is only 41 per cent full - compared to the long-term average of 88%.

The move comes after the driest 10 months since 1888 - when Jack the Ripper was prowling the streets of London and Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear.

If granted, the permit would help ease the pressure on the reservoir, which supplies the Medway towns, Thanet and Hastings areas - and reduce the risk of water restrictions this summer.

Water strategy manager Meyrick Gough said: "We are licensed to take a certain amount of water from the River Medway to put into Bewl.

"If the permit is granted, the terms of our licence would temporarily change, allowing us to take more water from the river if we need to.

"This will mean water will be conserved in the reservoir and will help secure supplies.

"This is a precautionary measure, which we hope will reduce the chances of us having to restrict customers' water use through the summer."

A similar permit was granted in 2005 and 2006 when the reservoir was at about the same level.

The application follows last autumn being the second warmest on record in the UK, according to the Met Office.