Water company in new drought move

Yorkshire Water is re-applying for permission to introduce rota water cuts in parts of the drought-hit region.

The company says that despite some recent rainfall, reservoir levels in Calderdale and Kirklees are critically low. It claims that unless cuts are introduced the area will run out of water. If the Department of the Environment grants the order the cuts will affect everyone in the two areas except hospitals, hospices, emergency services and livestock farms.

Yorkshire Water's director of production and technology, John Layfield, said: "We have no choice but to seek this order if we want to avoid West Yorkshire running out of water."