Titchmarsh has a dig at water firms

ALAN Titchmarsh has criticised water companies for blaming gardeners for shortages as fears rise of a summer of hosepipe bans.

Northern Ireland is the first area subject to a hosepipe ban and households in Berkshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire may see low pressure hit their water supplies during peak hours.

With the heatwave set to last, suppliers are warning their customers to use less water or face a ban. But Titchmarsh, 69, hit out at the the warnings, saying that water firms waste so much in leaks themselves.

Three billion litres of water simply drains away every day, according to regulator Ofwat. Titchmarsh told magazine Horticulture Week: ‘A hosepipe ban would be galling when so much water is not properly managed and leaks. And when they blame gardeners, that really is galling.’

The TV presenter did, however, urge gardeners not to water their lawns and to instead wait until it next rains.

He has previously claimed that gardeners are actually among the most responsible water users and complained about water firms charging customers ‘a fortune’.