More than 1,600 people have informed on their neighbours for breaking a hosepipe ban.

Householders in drought-hit Sussex are snooping on each other as the county experiences its driest period since 1976.

Southern Water, which imposed a ban on its Sussex and Kent customers last summer, has been flooded with calls, speaking to 1,533 suburban spies since the restrictions were imposed.

Neighbouring company South East Water, which also covers parts of Sussex, has received 100 tip-offs.

Customers who flout the ban face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

The ban means watering private gardens or washing cars with a hosepipe is forbidden and customers are being urged to collect rainfall in water butts.

Joy Chittenden, 60, who waters her garden using rain water she has collected in barrels, said she would report anyone she spotted breaking the hosepipe ban.

Miss Chittenden, of Old Shoreham Road, Hove, said: "Anyone who is wasting water should be told. How people don't know there is a ban on beats me.

"I would definitely report anyone breaking the ban. I would rather have water from my taps than have to get it from a big tanker."

The water companies said they wanted to promote cooperation rather than create a climate of curtain twitching.

A Southern Water spokesman said: "We're not encouraging people to snoop on their neighbours but to be public-spirited.

"We have to work on the basis that not everybody knows there is a ban in place."

He said water usage dropped by five per cent last summer, showing the ban was working.

He added: "We have every confidence our customers will work with us to help conserve supplies to ensure there is sufficient water in future for everyone's domestic needs, such as drinking, washing and cooking."

If the drought continues, standpipes could be introduced, with customers taking turns to collect their water from one communal tap.

In a bid to avoid the Draconian measure, Southern Water has applied for a non-essential use ban which would stop water being used by professional car washers and window cleaners.

Sports grounds would go unwatered and filling swimming pools would be banned. A decision is expected after Easter.

The majority of local authorities have already announced they will be pulling the plug on floral displays and hanging baskets this summer in a bid to save water, introducing desert-style plants instead.

Hotline numbers to report anyone flouting the ban are: Southern Water - 0845 2780845. South East Water - 0800 4581589.