A HOSEPIPE ban is set to hit Lancashire for the first time in 14 years within a fortnight unless there is ‘substantial’ rainfall -which is unlikely.

Bosses at United Utilities said reservoir stocks were so low that a drought plan was now being implemented in the area.

The period from January to May has been the driest since records began with half the rainfall normally seen.

It has left reservoirs 60 per cent full, when they would normally be at least 80 per cent.

A campaign to urge people to conserve water is to be launched next week.

United Utilities said the area was a fortnight from implementing a hosepipe ban.

At present the firm is moving around water stocks in a bid to keep all reservoirs at similar levels.

If the dry weather persists, bosses will consider applying for permits to allow them to take extra water from lakes and rivers.

A United Utilities spokesman said: “We’re encouraging our customers to use water wisely. Next week we will be launching a regional press and radio advertising campaign to remind people about conserving water.”

The Environment Agency said if the warm weather continued it expected hosepipe restrictions to be put in place in Lancashire.

Stuart Sampson, the Environment Agency's national drought coordinator, said: “All of these reservoir levels are declining at a rate that is similar to the 1995/96 drought. However, any substantial rainfall could reverse this position.”

Lancashire weatherman John Kettley explained what was causing the dry weather: “It is because of an area of high pressure over Scotland, directly affecting the level of rainfall in the North West.

“It is the same area of high pressure responsible for bringing the volcanic ash cloud to Britain and has meant that it has been a lot drier in the north rather than the south.”

Tim Baylis, the manager of popular garden centre Gordon Riggs in Todmorden said a hosepipe ban would have a big impact on his business.

He said: “Normally we have more water than we can cope with so this is a very unusual situation. Any hosepipe ban would hit our customers because gardeners would be less likely to buy plants if they cannot water them.”

Amar Mahmood, the owner of Baxenden Auto Wash in Manchester Road, said he was desperate for some rain to ward off a water ban.

He said: “I think we would be able to wash cars still because we are very economical with water but a hosepipe ban would really stop people coming in.

“Any ban would mean we would be washing a lot less cars.”

The 1995/96 hosepipe ban lasted for 14 months after levels of reservoirs sank to 11 per cent.

For six months people were also prohibited from washing their cars and windows with buckets of water, and using a watering can in the garden.

The restrictions, from August 1995 to October 1996, were blamed on the driest period on record with 64 per cent the usual rainfal over 18 months.

North West Water, the firm then managing the network, launched a £85million investment scheme in a bid to prevent reservoirs becoming so low again.