Shoppers brave the rain at Bexleyheath Broadway

Gardeners in Bexley are celebrating the end of the hose pipe ban which has been lifted by Thames Water due to the heavy rainfall this summer.

The company said says record spring rainfall has persuaded them to life the ban which was imposed two months ago.

The company, which serves residents and businesses in Bexley and 8.8 million people throughout London, had been expected to keep the ban going through the summer and until the autumn but made the decision to end the ban today.

It had been in place since April after a dry autumn but Environment Agency has also said the wet weather has reduced the risk of drought and water restrictions this summer.

Brian Gabb, of the Bexley Federation of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners, which looks after 36 allotment sites across Bexley said: “I think an end to the ban is a good thing overall.

“I don’t think it’s been necessary for a number of weeks with this mini-monsoon but I understand how water companies have to conserve water as you never what weather is around the corner.”

He said plants have been flourishing with the heavy rain.

The closing date for entries for this year’s Bexley in Bloom competition has just passed and organiser who were dreading the conditions of drought are hoping that the deluge will have helped create attractive displays.

Sustainability director for Thames Water Richard Ayland said: “The record spring windfall has eased the situation considerably.

“Unless the topsy-turvy British weather delivers an unexpectedly Saharan twist we no longer expect the drought to be in place right through to the autumn.”

There are still fears that a dry winter could affect river and reservoir levels.

Mr Ayland continued: “We have had excellent cooperation from our customers, both in observing the restrictions and in using water wisely, and we are currently beating our leakage target by 60 litres a day.

“However, come rain or shine, we would ask all our customers to continue to use water wisely.”