Hosepipe ban map: Where legal restrictions are in place as 26 million affected

Nearly 26 million people will have their hosepipe use restricted after South West Water (SWW) became the latest supplier to announce an official ban.Customers across central and south England remain banned from using hosepipes as back-to-back heatwaves and severely low rainfall have led to official drought conditions being declared.Almost half of England and the entirety of Wales are now in drought, according to authorities.SWW issued a hosepipe ban in parts of Devon and Dorset last month, but has now confirmed that this has been extended to all customers in Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly.Sam Bottomley, the firm's water services director, said the decision was not taken "lightly", adding: "After an extended period of exceptionally low rainfall, combin