Jaguar Land Rover and Cadbury shut plants so water firm can fix burst pipes

Thousands sent home in West Midlands as Severn Trent prioritises households amid dwindling supply

Thousands of staff at two Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) car plants have been sent home, while chocolate production has been halted at Cadbury's Bourneville factory, amid water shortages in the West Midlands caused by burst water mains after the recent cold weather.

The local water company, Severn Trent, said it had asked a "handful of big businesses" to shut down factories as it tried to prioritise household supplies.