WATER supplies in the Vale and Cotswolds are at expected levels for the time of year and there are no fears of shortages, Severn Trent have announced.

The utility company made its announcement after recent reports that a number of reservoirs in the south of England were at dangerously low levels.

Met Office forecasts of a drier than average winter had fuelled speculation that supplies might not be replenished over the winter. However, Severn Trent said their total storage currently stood at 94.2 per cent full.

Richard Martin, director of operations, said he was confident careful management would enable the company to maximise rainfall and protect storage levels ready for the spring.

"Our stored water levels are exactly where we expect them to be for the time of year and they're rising," he said.

"High demand and low rainfall during the summer means reservoir levels drop. During the winter, demand decreases and rainfall usually increases, so they fill up again ready for spring.

"Recent rainfall has helped replenish our reservoirs and we expect this to continue.

"We're working hard to make every drop count, which means keeping leakage at sensible levels.

"We're spending £120m this year to improve and modernise our 46,000 kilometres of pipes."

He was keen to remind customers to play their part in protecting water supplies. Leakage can be prevented by insulating pipes to reduce the risk of them freezing and bursting.

"Burst pipes in the home are ultimately the responsibility of the homeowner and prevention will ensure customers avoid inconvenient and often costly repair jobs," Mr Martin added.

"Insulating pipes and leaving the heating switched on at a low level if the house is unoccupied during cold spells can help prevent pipes from freezing.

"Frozen pipes are inconvenient and can leave a trail of damage behind. We are working hard to conserve water and reduce leaks and we need our customers to work with us and do their bit too."