BRITS PANIC-BUYING HOSEPIPES AS BAN LOOMS

HOSEPIPES are changing hands on the black market for up to £ 20 a METRE ahead of the garden appliance being outlawed.

United Utilities, whose leaky system supplies water to the north west of England, announced that hosepipes would be banned from August 5.

That’s led to a stampede towards DIY stores and hardware shops as gardeners and piped water fans desperately try to beat the restrictions and stock up on the soon- to- be- illegal apparatus.

One hardware shop owner, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals from water authorities, said: “Within two hours of the ban being announced, there was not a hosepipe in the shop.

“I doubled the price and then tripled it, but still they sold. There’s no more at the wholesalers.

“Honestly, I could have named my price at the end.

“Two men were at each end of a hosepipe in a desperate tug- of- war. It was ugly… really ugly.”

There are fears that criminal gangs, scenting profit in under- counter hosepipe trafficking, may try to cash in.

Hosepipe owners have been advised to keep their pipes in the house or in secure outbuildings to deter opportunist thieves.

A source said: “We’ve already had reports that one- metre lengths of hosepipe are being sold for £ 15 or even £ 20.

“When they are going for that kind of price, it’s little wonder that the criminal element is attracted.

“There are even rumours that Albanian shit gangs are moving into hosepipes.

“If these guys come for your hosepipe, just hand it over and inform the authorities.

“These guys are ruthless. No hosepipe is worth losing your life for.

“It’s madness out there. Stay safe, people.”

In Northern Ireland, where hosepipes were banned at the start of July, it’s thought that former paramilitaries have cornered the black market in hosepipes. WATER SHOCKER: Fight is on to stock up on hosepipes STAMPEDED: But DIY stores are running out of the soon- to- bebanned garden watering apparatus