There should be no need for hosepipe bans in Sussex this summer despite the driest April for five years.

It has hardly rained in the county for more than 30 days, making this April the driest since 1997.

However, experts say the county should have received enough rain during the winter months to make sure supplies hold out through the summer.

The Argus weatherman Ken Woodham said: "We did have a small amount of rain on April 17 which broke the run but it was only 0.05mm (0.002in), hardly enough to make a difference.

"Apart from that there has been no rain since March 21 and even then we only had 0.25mm (0.01in)."

He said the last time Sussex had so little rain in spring was in 1997, when none fell from March 27 until April 24.

He said: "We must make the most of it and enjoy the good weather."

Southern Water spokesman Neil Duncanson said: "The reservoirs are full so we don't anticipate having to impose any restrictions such as hosepipe bans this year.

"But we have already had a dry April so would still ask our customers to use water wisely.

"We had considerable rainfall last year which made the water levels very high."

There was 5cm (2in) of rain in Sussex during March this year, 10cm (4in) in February and almost 4in in January.

Temperatures so far this spring have been about average for the time of year.