29 July 2010 Last updated at 14:07 ET

Severn Trent plea to conserve water supplies

Water supplies still need to be conserved, despite the recent rain, Severn Trent has said.

Reservoirs across the West Midlands are still "substantially lower" than they would normally be at this time of year.

One reservoir is only 54% full, the firm said. Water supplies in north Staffordshire have already been switched to another source.

While the firm is not looking to introduce a hosepipe ban it is urging customers not to use them.

Tittesworth Reservoir in north Staffordshire is 54% full, the rest stand at an average of 75% full.

Severn Trent said it had been the driest start to a year since 1929, with six successive months of below-average rainfall.