The strictest ban on water use for more than 15 years could be slapped on Sussex within a week.

Southern Water expects to hear by May 10 if its application to ban all "non-essential" water use has succeeded.

If Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett agrees to the ban residents would not be allowed to wash their cars - except for the windows and the lights even with a bucket.

Sports clubs such as Brighton and Hove Albion and Sussex Cricket Club would not be allowed to water their grounds and parks across the county would face a dismal summer as watering the grass would also become illegal.

Window washing with a hose would be banned but homeowners and professional cleaners would be able to use a bucket.

Filling swimming pools or ponds would also be banned.

The measures have been criticised by window cleaners and other businessmen who said the ban could force them into bankruptcy.

Dave Paynter, 36, a window cleaner who works across Sussex, said: "I have to use a hose for my business and if the water companies are going to tell me I can't do that any more I'm going to be out of business."

Michael Lincer, 26, who washes cars at traffic lights in Brighton during the summer, faces a season without work.

He said: "If car washing is banned I am going to be sitting down a lot over the summer.

"I can do windscreens and lights but if I touch the bonnet with my squeegee I'm breaking the law.

"I personally don't see how they can enforce it."

Southern Water, one of three water companies in the South-East which have requested the ban, believes it is a necessary step after two dry winters and one of the longest spells of below average rainfall for 100 years.

Public inquiries were held in April and the planning inspectorate presented its recommendations on the restrictions to the Government last week.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: "This is not new but we do think it is essential.

"We are just waiting to hear from the Government whether we will get the order."

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs stressed it was not known how stringent the ban would be and said concessions could be made.

A spokesman said: "The announcement could be made today or next week, it just depends on when a decision is taken by the ministers.

"But it is important the department gets the decision right and takes enough time to do that.

"The ministers can accept the ban as was proposed in the public inquiries or they can make amendments to it. It is not straight forward."

It comes as Southern Water announced it sold all 4,000 water butts during a series of sales in Sussex and Kent last week.

The company sold the half-price, 200 litre butts and gave away free rain diverter kits at Brighton racecourse and at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre.

Southern Water is also helping water butt manufacturers to keep up production as they struggle to meet demand from people who intend to store rainfall during the summer