Water minister is accused of being 'slow to react' to the THIRD drought in five years

Shadow minister Robbie Moore told MPs the crisis 'should not have caught the government off guard'. Water minister Emma Hardy hit back with 'I can't make it rain' and admitted over 80% of England, around 50 million people, is now in drought. Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor, serving 300,000 properties, sits at just 14.9% capacity, when around 75% is expected.

Devon council leader Julian Brazil blamed South West Water's 'neglect' for the crisis.

Moore said Hardy failed to mention the drought's impact on struggling farmers.

Hardy promised nine new major reservoirs on a 'decade-long journey'.