Rivers may be flowing freely and some areas facing flood warnings, but there is no end in sight for Thames Water’s hosepipe ban.

Thames Water, responsible for water in Marlborough and Swindon, introduced its hosepipe ban on April 8, and warned it could last all year.

Simon Evans, the firm’s media manager, said: “The irony of having introduced a hosepipe ban as the heavens opened has not passed us by.

“Although April’s rain has not got us out of jail, you could say it has slightly loosened the locks.”

“The rain has reduced the likelihood of Thames Water having to apply for further restrictions – the next step would have been to seek a drought order.

“It has taken us two dry years to get into the situation and it will take more than a month of rain to get out of it.”

Although the Rivers Kennet and Pang are flowing, the rainfall has not had time to percolate down to underground aquifers from which supplies are drawn.

“The hosepipe ban is likely to stay in place for the rest of this year at least,” he said.