Sarah Dalton

A delivery van temporarily blocked a road while a water carrier from Royal Wootton Bassett Fire Station was responding to an emergency, delaying firefighters until the driver moved it. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service urged motorists to leave enough space for fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles, particularly as dry, extremely hot weather has increased wildfire risks in Wiltshire.

Wessex Water introduced its first hosepipe ban in 50 years after more than 40 days of record-high demand and an official drought declaration in the region. The ban, affecting most of Wiltshire as well as areas of Bath, Somerset and Dorset, prohibits hosepipe use for activities including gardening, car washing and filling pools. Demand has exceeded 400 million litres per day, while the company is increasing leak repairs and urging households and businesses to reduce non-essential water use.