The East and West Midlands have become the latest areas of England to fall into drought as the country struggles with the driest start to the year since 1976.The move comes in the wake of summer heatwaves and a drier than average June, with the Environment Agency (EA) warning three more areas - Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, East Anglia, and Thames area - have also moved into prolonged dry weather status.The declaration of drought status for the East and West Midlands means the region joins

The East and West Midlands have become the latest areas of England to fall into drought as the country struggles with the driest start to the year since 1976.The move comes in the wake of summer heatwaves and a drier than average June, with the Environment Agency (EA) warning three more areas - Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, East Anglia, and Thames area - have also moved into prolonged dry weather status.The declaration of drought status for the East and West Midlands means the region joins Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, which are already in drought.