A DROUGHT could be declared for some areas of the South West on Friday, it has been reported.

The National Drought Group is set to meet to discuss the prolonged dry weather.

It is expected that drought could be declared for the country's southern and eastern areas, prompting action by agencies and water companies to manage water resources to ensure supplies and protect the environment.

It would mean people living across the region can expect restrictions on use of water, with a hosepipe ban likely for Swindon and parts of Wiltshire soon.

Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen said: "Now this may not come as a huge surprise due to the record temperatures we have seen and the really incredibly parched conditions we have seen across a lot of the country, but the South West of England has been one of the hardest hit of the regions.

"And it is not inconceivable that drought conditions could follow in other parts of the country."

The news comes as temperatures are set to climb to as high as 34C on Thursday and up to a peak of 36C over the weekend in the areas covered by an amber warning for extreme heat issued by the Met Office for much of England and Wales.

The vulnerable are likely to experience adverse health effects and the wider population could also be affected, delays to travel are possible and there is an increased risk of water accidents and fires as more people head to tourist spots.

The Met Office said there could be a “thundery breakdown” to the hot weather on Monday.

The Met Office’s fire severity index (FSI), an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start, will reach “exceptional” – the highest level – for a swathe of England by the weekend.