An ancient packhorse bridge swallowed up by the reservoir in the 1950s is clearly visible (Picture: Getty)

Millions of people are facing a lengthy hosepipe ban after Yorkshire Water revealed it is imposing restrictions from Friday.

The region is already in drought, but just six inches of rain fell between February and June in one of the driest and warmest springs on record.

Reservoirs have been severely impacted owing to the low rainfalls – half of what normally falls – and are significantly below normal levels for the time of year.

Yorkshire Water is now warning that restrictions may be in place until winter, unless there is enough rainfall to bring stocks back to where they need to be.

The restrictions mean people can no longer use hosepipes to:

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Water gardens
Wash vehicles
Fill swimming pools
Clean outdoor surfaces

However, they can wash cars and water gardens using buckets or watering cans. Businesses are exempt from using a hosepipe as long as it is directly related to a commercial purpose.

Water levels at Baitings Dam in Ripponden have fallen so far that an ancient packhorse bridge, once used to connect Yorkshire and Lancashire, is now visible above the surface. The dam was built in the 1950s, submerging the village of Baitings — a Norse-origin settlement — beneath the reservoir.

The hosepipe ban covers all of Yorkshire Water area (Map: Metro)

Low water levels have left many reservoirs bone dry in Yorkshire (Picture: EPA)

‘Introducing these restrictions is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’ve been doing everything we can to avoid having to put them in place.’

He added that reservoirs would normally be topped up by rain, but because of the dryer spring, water levels have fallen since January.

He said: ‘Of course, we have seen a few periods of changeable weather more recently, which helped slightly with the water resources picture.

‘But these have been followed by constant high temperatures and more dry weather, which causes increased water usage.’

Mr Kaye said: ‘With more dry weather forecast in the coming weeks, it is likely our stocks will continue to fall, so we need to act now to maintain clean water supplies and long-term river health.’

Last month, the Environment Agency declared Yorkshire had officially moved to ‘drought’ status, following a prolonged period of low rainfall.

Looking ahead, the region is facing a sustained period of hot and dry weather, reaching 31°C on Friday and Saturday.