The hosepipe ban has been lifted in Sussex.

Most people will be able to use hosepipes and sprinklers again from tomorrow, although some restrictions are still in place in East Sussex.

Hosepipe bans were introduced in the summer of 2005 following the worst drought since the Thirties.

Water companies relaxed the restrictions after a recent deluge of wet weather.

Only South East Water is still operating its ban because water levels at some of its reservoirs have not yet recovered properly.

Southern Water said its water supplies had improved but still remained lower than hoped.

Andy Watson, director of operations for Southern Water, urged customers to be cautious about how much water they used.

He said: "Although our resources are better this winter compared with last year, they are still at a low level.

"As a result, we would ask customers for their continued support in being water-efficient and avoiding waste following their fantastic response during the drought."

The dry weather, which sparked the hosepipe ban, left the region's reservoirs and underground water resources at record low levels.

Southern Water's reservoirs and underground sources have not yet fully recovered, with much of the autumn rain taken up by vegetation, such as tree roots, and evaporation.

The company predicts it can recharge its reservoirs and underground sources if it gets enough rain before April.

In the next couple of weeks South East Water will review whether to lift its hosepipe ban.

While its reservoirs at Ardingly and Arlington in Sussex are full, many of the company's underground sources are only now showing signs of recovery.

A chalk aquifer at Eastbourne, Sussex, is not full enough yet following last year's hot summer.

David Shore, director of assets, said: "While there has been heavy rainfall across the South East, some areas have had less rain than others.

"Furthermore, it's taken much longer for the rain to refill some of our key chalk aquifers.

"Nevertheless we are hopeful that, by the end of this month, our underground sources will have continued to recover enough for us to be sure of meeting demand for water this spring and summer, without the need to keep the hosepipe ban in place."

Barbara Young, chief executive of The Environment Agency, said: "Lifting hosepipe bans is reasonable if water companies are confident the winter rainfall has replenished water resources to sufficient levels to get through next summer.

"However, despite the wet autumn and winter so far, groundwater levels are still low in parts of the South East and it is too early to say the drought is completely over.

"If the rest of the winter is dry, there is still a risk of drought next summer."