A deluge of April showers has led to a reservoir being filled to capacity for the first time this year.

Water companies warn the South-East faces its worst drought since 1933 because of a lack of rain during the winter.

But following a series of heavy showers Ardingly Reservoir near Haywards Heath is full. Arlington Reservoir at Berwick, near Polegate, has also been full since February.

A hosepipe ban has been in place across Sussex since July last year and there are still fears that standpipes might be introduced later this year unless the wet weather continues.

A spokeswoman from South East Water said: "The River Ouse has been at high flow for the last few weeks which meant under our licence we could take water to stock up the reservoir."

In December South East Water warned that Ardingly Reservoir was at only 52 per cent of capacity and by February it had only filled to 65 per cent.

The spokeswoman said "It's encouraging that the reservoir is full but people should remember we get three quarters of our water from underground aquifers and the levels are still low. People need to carry on saving water in any way they can."

The hosepipe ban has caused anger among some gardeners, who say it is wrong that people are allowed use hosepipes to fill swimming or paddling pools but not to water their gardens.

Allotment holders are allowed to use hosepipes but people with private gardens are not.

Southern Water has a telephone hotline where people can report their neighbours for breaking the ban. So far more than 1,800 people have been shopped.

Ray Bates, owner of Rotherview Nursery in Three Oaks, Hastings, said some customers were buying fewer plants because they were worried about being able to water them.

He is selling a range of drought-proof plants and offering customers advice on traditional methods of retaining water, such as mulching. He said: "The law is badly written and needs to be updated but we have to live within the letter of the law."

Joy Chittenden, 60, of Old Shoreham Road, Hove, said she was collecting rainwater and using watering cans but it made her angry that people using allotments backing onto her garden could still use hosepipes.