THAMES WATER, ANGLIA WATER AND SOUTHERN WATER LIFT HOSEPIPE BANS

BRITAIN’S three largest water companies will today announce they will be lifting hosepipe bans tomorrow after days of heavy rain.

The three are Anglia Water, Southern Water and Thames Water, who serve more than17 million customers.

A total of seven water companies across southern and eastern England brought in hosepipe bans in early April to combat drought.

wo unusually dry winters had left some groundwater supplies and rivers as low as in the infamous drought year of 1976.

The other four – South East Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Veolia Water Central and Veolia Water Southeast – are maintaining their hosepipe bans for now.

A spokesman for Thames Water, the UK's largest water company with 8.8 million customers in London and the Thames Valley area, said: "We have had two-and-a-half times the average rainfall for April, we have had steady showers in May and then monsoon downpours in June. That's changed things."

A spokesman for Anglian Water said that the decision had been made because of a combination of factors combining to ease pressure on the water system: "It's been because of supply and demand, it has recharged. It also is because we have had such a cold, wet May and June following a wet April, which means demand has been suppressed."

POSTMEN CAN NOW LEAVE PARCELS WITH THE NEIGHBOURS

POSTMEN working for the Royal Mail will now officially be able to leave parcels with neighbours in a shake-up of the system.

The move comes after trials in 750,000 homes and will signal the end to “Sorry, you were out” cards being dropped through letterboxes.

Householders will not be able to nominate a specific neighbour and special delivery items, from abroad, or high-value parcels will be excluded.

Royal Mail’s Mike Newham said last night: “Customers welcome the convenience of having items delivered to a neighbour.”

SOPHIE, COUNTESS OF WESSEX HAS MARILYN MONROE MOMENT ON TOUR OF GIBRALTAR

SOPHIE, Countess of Wessex revealed more than she was hoping after she was caught unaware in windy Gibraltar.

The Countess of Wessex, who was joined by Prince Edward, was caught out as her skirt was blown by the blustery sea breeze. 

But being a demure royal, the Duchess quickly saved the moment from being a full blown embarrassment by grabbing the edges of her dress.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward in Gibraltar

The royal couple were unveiling a commemorative plaque at a children's playground in the Moorish Castle neighbourhood. 

Sophie during the visit changed her outfit three times, this brown floaty number, anan optical illusion dress which is a favourite among the stars including Kate Winslet and Carol Vorderman and a green dress with formal jacket and hat. 

The Countess of Wessex was a hit during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations as she wore a Bruce Oldfield navy fitted jacket with cut-out detail skirt to the knee.

Sophie has been transformed since Kate, Duchess of Cambridge arrived on the royal scene. The two are said to be exchanging notes on how to remain elegant while showing off their enviable figures.

Prince Edward and his wife Countess of Wessex Sophie watch troops parade

 

The Countess of Wessex watches a Royal Air Force plane in her optical illusion dress

COLEEN ROONEY JETS OFF TO BE WITH WAYNE AT THE EUROS

COLEEN Rooney couldn't hold in her excitement at seeing husband Wayne Rooney today as she finally waved farewell to England and set off for Poland.

The footballer's wife posted a picture of herself with their young son Kai about to board their private jet. 

Coleen celebrated the previous evening at a Kanye West and Jay Z concert, but signs of the night before were not evident as she posed fresh faced for the pic. 

The 26-year-old also posted a picture of their young son on the plane with a daddy t-shirt on. 

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• Coleen Rooney flies in to support hubbie Wayne

Alongside the image she wrote: "Can't wait to see my daddy!!!"

The Rooney's are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary this week.

KATE, DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE QUEEN SHOW OFF ROYAL BOND

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the public in Nottingham

A source said: “Her Majesty has grown very fond of Kate’s style and is making plans for her own wardrobe. 



The Queen also wore blue in Nottingham

Kate finished her elegant look with a blue hat and navy court shoes. 

Kate previously wore the coat on a trip with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen to London department store Fortnum and Mason. 




Duchess of Cambridge meets with local children at the Council House in Nottingham

All three royals were welcomed by cheering crowds in Nottingham and were handed flowers and cards by people waiting to catch a glimpse. 

The Queen, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge later took to the balcony of the council house where scenes were similar to those of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee procession day. 

The Queen also went for a blue number - choosing to wear an aquamarine jacket and hat. 




Kate wore the same coat she wore to Fortnum and Mason with the Queen earlier this year





The Queen greeted members of the crowd

DAVID CAMERON BRANDED A 'SNOB' AFTER HE TELLS MP TO TAKE POETRY LESSONS

PRIME Minister David Cameron was branded a 'snob' by Labour today after he suggested an MP needed to take poetry reading lessons.

The PM was replying to comments made by MP Steve Rotherham who had attacked him on his Budget and economic strategy. 

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Rotherham said: "Prime Minister, an omnishambles of a Budget you claimed you'd read line by line, a double-dip recession you made in Downing Street, and a Tory-led committee reporting that the coalition lacks strategic direction.

"Evidence if ever was needed that men can multi-task, it's just, obviously, that some aren't very good at it. Prime Minister, have you now run out of steam or is the job just too big for you?"

Mr Cameron replied: "I'm very pleased that the Education Secretary is introducing compulsory poetry reading lessons in class and perhaps we could start with the honourable gentleman."

Commenting on the exchange, a Labour source said: "This was a sneering and snobbish remark by the Prime Minister. He was suggesting someone should have reading lessons because they have a Liverpudlian accent.

"The Prime Minister should not have said it."

FLOODED STREETS...NOW GET READY FOR TORNADOES

WE have had weeks of seemingly endless rain, now the deluge will be joined by tornadoes as ­Britain’s freakish summer just gets even weirder.
Forecasters said warm moist air is likely to trigger twisters strong enough to tear roof tiles off buildings across central England from tomorrow.
It comes amid warnings that ­torrential downpours will get heavier with some areas ­facing a month’s worth of rain in three hours.
The non-stop downpours will continue to bring the risk of widespread floods until at least the end of the month – and weather experts last night ­predicted they could continue through July and August.
Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, said: “Temperatures are set to rise this week and could get into the 70s.

“But then we will have a swath of moist, warm air, the perfect ingredients for tornadoes. These will be a threat anywhere but mainly across the UK’s central belt known as Tornado Alley.”
Flood-hit parts of Britain could be battered by further heavy deluges from today.
Mr Powell said Friday would be “absolutely dreadful”. Wales and South-west England may get five more inches of rain by then.
He added: “We could see nine inches by the end of the month, triple the average. There are signs July and August could follow the same picture. There is no doubt we are in for one of the wettest summers on record.”

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There was still no sign last night of water firms lifting their hosepipe bans. Bosses said groundwater reserves are still below optimum levels.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for the South-west today. Forecaster Charlie Powell said isolated parts of Cornwall could see more than two inches of rain – almost a month’s worth – in three hours with no let-up in sight.