Hosepipe ban affecting swathes of Devon could last until December

Customers face fine of up to 1,000 for breaching ban that South West Water blames on below-average rainfall

Even though this March was one of the wettest in England for 40 years, a hosepipe ban has been imposed on hundreds of thousands of people in the south-west.

Customers of South West Water in much of Devon, including the city of Plymouth and the towns of Barnstaple, Tavistock and Torquay, are all subject to the restrictions, which are likely to be in place until December.