Labour is accused of being caught 'off guard' by 'severe drought' as water minister defends its planning to MPs

Wimbleball Reservoir, which serves about 300,000 properties, has fallen to 14.9% capacity when 75% is normal for October. Shadow minister Robbie Moore attacked Emma Hardy for failing to mention farmers in her emergency Commons statement. Hardy promised nine new major reservoirs on a 'decade-long journey'. Devon council leader Julian Brazil blamed South West Water's 'neglect'.

Brazil said the firm had 'not built the reservoirs Devon's people and businesses deserved'.

The South East and South West suffered their driest April to September for over a century.

A bridge drowned by a Somerset reservoir nearly 50 years ago has now re-emerged.