A hosepipe ban has been expanded to cover 2.4 million people across southern England due to record-breaking temperatures and severe drought conditions.

South East Water, which supplies water to parts of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Kent, has implemented restrictions following a sharp decline in reservoir levels at Arlington Reservoir in East Sussex.

The ban, set to take effect from 00:01 BST on Saturday, prohibits households from using hosepipes for tasks like cleaning, watering plants, or filling ponds.The decision follows months of below-average rainfall, with some areas experiencing no significant rain for over a month.

Douglas Whitfield, SEW's water supply director, expressed regret over the necessity of the ban but acknowledged the need to protect water supplies amid exceptional heat and dry weather.Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde criticized the situation as a result of years of underinvestment in infrastructure.The crisis has also impacted local businesses, with landlords reporting lost revenue due to restricted water access.Southern Water, which serves other parts of Sussex, noted that its region's water levels are better than last year, avoiding a hosepipe ban.The company faces financial pressures, including a £30.5m fine from Ofwat and a £55m loss from winter outages, highlighting the strain on regional water management systems.