// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
More than two-thirds of England now in drought
All of Wales and parts of England were already in drought conditions - including Richmond Park, London, pictured here
Drought officials have declared 71.3% of England is now in drought, after the nation recorded its driest July since records began in 1836.
The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs moved into drought status on Monday, joining half of England and the whole of Wales.
The National Drought Group – made up of regulators, government officials, water companies and agricultural bodies - made the decision after a meeting on Monday.
A total of 45 million people are now living in a drought area in England, with more than 27 million facing water use restrictions.
It comes after an exceptionally hot and dry summer, with heatwave conditions set to return for many this week.
Chair of the National Drought Group, Tony Grayling, said that drought conditions will continue to worsen until "significant and sustained rainfall".
The week ahead is forecast to remain mostly dry, as the fifth heatwave of the year intensifies, although there are signs of some rain coming into the UK on Sunday.
"We know the hot and dry weather is taking a real toll on farming and there will be long-lasting impacts on our environment," Grayling said in a statement, adding that "we need everyone's help in using a little less water to make sure our current water reserves last".
Parks and green areas across England have dried out due to the hot weather, as seen at Clifton Observatory in Bristol