Water shortage warning to towns

Scottish Water has asked customers to reduce water usage

Residents in the Kelso and Yetholm areas have been asked to cut back water usage in order to maintain supplies.

Scottish Water said a sharp rise in demand due to the hot weather and the school holidays has caused problems.

The company has been arranging to bolster water stocks in the area and bring in additional pumping equipment to meet the increased demand.

However, it asked customers to use water "wisely" until those measures could be put in place.

Scottish Water's network manager Bill Byers said it had managed to keep most areas with water so far.

"At this stage we are managing to keep all customers in supply with the exception of one or two properties in the high-lying areas in Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm villages," he said.

Water users in the villages can help in the meantime by using water wisely and conserving stocks where possible Bill Byers Scottish Water

Mr Byers said everything was being done to meet the increased demand.

"We are taking immediate action by bringing in extra pumping equipment to help sustain acceptable water levels for all customers," he said.

"This is being done as quickly as possible by experienced teams who fully appreciate the urgency of the matter.

"Water users in the villages can help in the meantime by using water wisely and conserving stocks where possible.

"This is a short-term problem which we hope to resolve within a couple of days."