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Hosepipe bans are now in force across Kent.

Water companies have imposed the restrictions, following two years of exceptionally-low rainfall, which has left the County, and the rest of the South East, in drought (06:07, 07:07 and 08:08).

The tool which helps control the chaos of Operation Stack is to be axed because it is too expensive. The Highways Agency is to stop the use of the Quickchange Moveable Barrier, to give it its proper name.

Back in 2008 the Highways Agency deployed a moveable barrier on the London-bound M20 at Cheriton which turned that section into a contraflow thereby allowing some coast-bound traffic to get through.

But since the barrier was introduced it has only been used twice and it costs more than 拢600,000 a year to keep the kit on standby.

As of this month the Agency is not renewing the lease on the equipment (06:24, 07:22 and 08:22).

From today over 700,000 homes across Kent and Medway are banned from using their hosepipes.

The county remains in drought following one of the driest winters on record.

And with the prospect of the ban lasting all summer long - no matter how much rain we get over the coming months - the pressure on water supplies has never been greater.

Southern Water is Kent's biggest water company and their Director of Metering - Darren Bentham - is here to answer your questions (08:48).

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