Lost village revealed as drought lowers water levels

The remains of a lost village that was demolished and flooded to create a reservoir have been revealed as the country continues to face drought conditions.

Low water levels at the Rutland Water reservoir have uncovered buildings, which were once part of the village of Nether Hambleton.

Residents, along with other small villages including Middle Hambleton, were relocated to other areas before the buildings were demolished and the area flooded in the 1970s to create the reservoir.

The creation of the reservoir, which involved damming the Gwash valley near Empingham, was finished in 1976 and flooding took a further three years, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust said.

More than 3,000 acres of land was submerged to create one of the largest man-made bodies of water in western Europe, covering more than four square miles, with cottages, farms and farmhouses destroyed to make way for it.

At its maximum, the reservoir is 34m (112ft) deep, but as England continues to face extremely dry conditions, the stonework that was left behind after the demolition of Nether Hambleton has been uncovered by falling water levels.

Rainfall across the East Midlands has been below average for the past five consecutive months, the Environment Agency said, with the spring and summer period the driest since 1995 and July being the driest on record.

The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs became the latest areas to move into drought status on Monday.

An amber warning for extreme heat has been issued by the Met Office for Thursday, as some parts of England face temperatures of up to 38C (100F).

Tony Grayling, the strategic drought lead at the Environment Agency and chairman of the National Drought Group, said: "Drought conditions are worsening and will continue to do so until we see significant and sustained rainfall.

"We know the hot and dry weather is taking a real toll on farming and there will be long-lasting impacts on our environment.

"We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated over the summer, but we need everyone's help in using a little less water to make sure our current water reserves last.

"Every drop we can save is a drop more for your local farmers, local wildlife and local rivers."