Greater Manchester reservoir is 'lowest ever seen' as drought declared in eight areas of England

Dramatic pictures show the impact recent heatwaves are having on local water sources and reservoirs as a formal drought is announced in eight areas of the UK.

Residents say the incredibly low water levels at reservoirs such as Jumbles Country Park in Bolton remind them of summers in the 1970s and 1990s, when similarly low water levels plagued the region. Other residents say they have "never seen" the park's water levels so low before.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said the north west is "not currently in drought", but they are monitoring the situation closely.

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Posting in a popular Bolton Facebook group, Martyn Handley said he usually jumps off one of the reservoir's bridges during the summer - but this year, that would be impossible. "It's the lowest I have ever seen it in my life," he wrote.

"It's quite a shocking picture, but one we're seeing more and more often," Karen Nibloe commented. Other commenters compared it to the infamous summer of 1976, which saw the UK experience a severe drought across the country.

A dry, hot summer has had a noticeable impact on Greater Manchester's water sources, with other reservoirs such as Dovestone and Woodhead also functioning at lower than average levels for the time of year. But water bosses say they are not considering further measures such as hosepipe bans, which are in place across the south east of England, as the north west is able to draw on supplies from Cumbria.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News earlier this week, a spokesperson for United Utilities said: “Some parts of the North West region have seen less rainfall than others, particularly the Pennine area. However, our major water