River levels rise as rain continues to pour

The pouring rain has caused the water levels in our rivers to rise and this was particularly noticeable at Sutton Ford.

One car was stranded in the river as the driver attempted to cross to the other side.

But the last few weeks’ downpours will have done little to assuage the drought following the driest 18 months in a century.

Anglian Water’s Ciaran Nelson said: “This rainfall is helpful because it means people don’t need to water plants and they are dissuaded from washing their cars so it does suppress demand for water.

“And it’s going to have refilled everyone’s water butts, too.

“But unfortunately it’s not going to make much of a dent on underground water levels unless it persists for many more weeks, possibly months.”

Anglian Water is refilling some of its reservoirs and some are recovering quite well – but from a very low starting level.