THIS was the scene at Thruscross Reservoir at the weekend - a day after Yorkshire Water announced a hose pipe ban will be brought in on August 26.

The reservoir, near Blubberhouses, off the A59 between Skipton and Harrogate, is currently around half full and 20 per cent lower than would normally be expected at the time of year.

Completed in 1996, the reservoir flooded the village of West End. As the water level drops, more and more of the old village are being exposed, including remains of buildings and walls and trees, cut down before the valley was flooded.

As a result, Thruscross is busier than usual with people keen to see what is being gradually revealed. The last time so much of the remains of West End was exposed was during the droughts of 1989 and 1990.

Neil Dewis, the water company's director of water, said on Friday.

“Parts of Yorkshire have seen the lowest rainfall since our records began more than 130 years ago.

"The hot, dry, weather means that Yorkshire’s rivers are running low and our reservoirs are around 20 per cent lower than we would expect for this time of year. "We’ve been doing everything we can to avoid putting in restrictions but unfortunately, they’re now necessary as part of our drought planning."

For more information on what is included in the ban, go to: www.yorkshirewater.com/hosepipes