THE hosepipe ban affecting Oxfordshire could be lifted within weeks, according to Thames Water.

It no longer believes the ban will extend into the autumn, provided the weather does not take “an unexpectedly Saharan twist”.

The review of water restrictions has been prompted by record rainfall in recent months.

The news was met with happiness by gardeners.

Oxford in Bloom competitor Sue Milner, from Marston, said: “If the hosepipe ban is lifted, it will make life a lot easier.

“We’ve bought more watering cans and we’ve got five water butts so we’ll be out whatever the outcome. But it would make us happier.”

Seven water firms across southern and eastern England brought in restrictions in April after two dry winters.

But the bans were followed by record rainfall in April and May.

Thames Water sustainability director Richard Aylard said: “The record spring rainfall has eased the situation considerably.

“The River Thames provides 70 per cent of the water we supply to our customers and levels are now where we would expect them to be at this time of the year, and our reservoirs are still full.”

Mr Aylard said levels in natural underground reservoirs remained low and the company would need a little longer to ensure there was enough water to get through the summer and autumn without restrictions.

He added: “But unless the topsy-turvy British weather delivers an unexpectedly Saharan twist, we no longer expect to need to keep the ban in place right through to the autumn.”

Thames Water will review the need for restrictions at the end of this month.

The Environment Agency on Wednesday also announced that recent wet weather had significantly reduced the risk of drought.

Keen gardener Betty Fletcher of Stockleys Road, Northway, Oxford, said it had been hard for her to get outside to water the plants when the weather had been dry.

She said: “It’s good news and I’m happy that it will be lifted, but it is ridiculous that we have it with this weather.

“The lifting of the hosepipe ban won’t be much good to me at the moment. It has rained so much my plants are starting to rot.”

This April was the third wettest on record for Oxfordshire, with 119mm of rainfall. The average is about 75mm.

In May, rivers around the county were put on flood alert and flash flooding affected roads, including Denchworth Road through West Hanney.