A hosepipe ban has been implemented by South East Water, as the heatwave continues to hammer several parts of the UK. The company is asking people to follow the restrictions now but they will be enforced from 00:01 BST on Friday, July 3, affecting around 850,000 customers across Kent. Announcing the move, South East Water said: "While we've worked to sustain supplies, the continued pressure on our network means we now need to reduce non-essential water use.We're asking everyone across the county to please follow these restrictions straight away, to help us protect local water supplies."

South East Water said the restrictions were being introduced because of "high temperatures and record demand for water". Under the restrictions, people should not use hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, patios and boats, or for filling swimming and paddling pools. Earlier in the week, the company had asked customers to only use water for essential purposes. The restrictions come as the UK continues to endure an intense heatwave, with the country recording its hottest June day on record on Wednesday. The Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat covering parts of south-east England, including Kent, warning of significant impacts from the exceptionally high temperatures.

Forecasters say temperatures are expected to remain exceptionally high in parts of England before cooler conditions begin to move in later this week.

The restrictions come after South East Water said introducing a Temporary Use Ban would help protect local water resources and ensure it can continue to provide a reliable supply of drinking water to customers and essential services across Kent.

The company said demand for water across the county had reached exceptionally high levels following a sustained period of hot, dry weather, placing continued pressure on its network.

Speaking to ITV, David Hinton, Chief Executive Officer, South East Water, said: “We completely understand why everyone reaches for the hose when the weather gets this hot.

"It’s natural to want to enjoy our gardens and cool down, and we know how frustrating it is to hear that restrictions are coming into place.

"Our teams have worked incredibly hard to prepare for this summer, but the sheer scale of this sustained heatwave means drinking water is being drawn from our storage tanks faster than it can be treated and refilled.

"Our absolute priority has to be making sure there is always enough water for everyone’s essential daily needs -like hygiene, drinking and cooking - and that we protect our vulnerable customers.

"To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately.

"We are deeply sorry for the disruption this causes, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone helping us protect Kent's water."