No hanging baskets in town centre

Hanging baskets will be absent from Tunbridge Wells town centre

Another south-east council is taking down its hanging baskets in an attempt to help alleviate the water shortage situation in the region.

The decision taken in Tunbridge Wells town centre was "regrettable" but necessary to reduce water consumption, the borough council said.

Mid Kent Water and South East Water are operating hosepipe bans in the area.

In February, three councils in Sussex adapted their summer planting schemes after a request from Southern Water.

Councillor James Scholes, from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, said: "We are facing a drought and have to be responsible.

"We would urge everyone in the area to think carefully about the volume of water they use and consider ways of decreasing it."

As well as not using hanging baskets this year, the council has also pledged to reduce the level of watering of turfed areas like bowling greens and cricket pitches.

Mid Kent Water has asked the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the power to ban the watering of natural or artificial surfaces for sport or recreation, as well as public gardens and parks.