With the recent warm, dry weather, the area affected by drought in England has spread, according to the latest Environment Agency announcement. Areas up to East and South Yorkshire are now also officially in drought. Parts of Yorkshire are reported to be drier than they have been since 1910.

Much of the South and East of England was already in drought; East Anglia has been in drought since last summer, following two drier than average winters. There are fears for spring crops of thirsty produce, including salad and potatoes and some grains in the severely affected East of England.

The agency said that, although domestic supplies will be largely unaffected, there may be adverse effects for wildlife and farmers and other extractors due to low river and groundwater levels. The EA called for abstractors to use water wisely, as the window for recharge has now closed, and only the weather this summer will determine how severe the drought becomes in affected regions.

The warm, dry weather has caused fires on grassland in North Yorkshire, South Wales and South-West Scotland. Fires on heath land broke out a month earlier in 2012 than last year.

The Environment Agency warned today that, unless there is concerted rainfall in affected regions, more of the UK is likely to slip into drought. However, Met Office forecasts show the unseasonably hot weather is likely to continue into next week.

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