A DROUGHT has been declared in the West Midlands after the prolonged dry weather seen this summer.

The weather has led to low flows on the River Severn, which supplies water for more than six million people in towns and cities across the region, including in north Shropshire.

But throughout this prolonged period of dry weather and higher than average temperatures, the Environment Agency has been using groundwater resources and reserves from reservoirs in Wales to help maintain the flows.

Now the agency has moved to declare a drought.

Cath Eales from the Environment Agency in the West Midlands said: "The high temperatures have exacerbated pressures on our water environment and the wildlife that depends on it.

"These extreme weather conditions will become more likely, and potentially more severe, with climate change."

After this summer's heatwave, the recent rainfall has not done a lot for the soils, therefore the Environment Agency have had to monitor the rivers and carry out a number of fish rescues.

Cath added: "We had some much-needed rain recently, but it cannot make up for many months of below average rainfall.

"It will take more prolonged rainfall to wet up soils and replenish rivers and reservoirs."

The triggers used to confirm the move to drought status for the West Midlands include the hydrological position (rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, and the dryness of soils), as well as the impacts these conditions have on public water supply, abstractors (including farmers) and the environment.

"It’s important for everyone to use water as efficiently as possible in this particularly dry period," Ms Eales added.

The Environment Agency is calling on all abstractors and water users in the region to save water where possible, due to the possibility of there being little to no rainfall.