Farmers fear running out of water amid drought

The head of an organic vegetable box company has said staff would have to choose which plants to water and which to let die "within weeks".

Guy Singh-Watson, of Riverford Organic Farmers in Buckfastleigh, Devon, called for it to be easier and faster to get the permissions needed to install on-farm water storage, such as irrigation ponds.

Drought was declared in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on Tuesday and the Met Office said extreme weather was becoming the new normal for the UK.

The government said it was making it easier for farmers and rural businesses to build the infrastructure they need.