THIRTY-SEVEN people have reported their neighbours for breaking hosepipe bans in Oxfordshire at a time when rainfall is below average for this time of year.

Thames Water introduced the restrictions across the region on Monday, April 3, in the face of severe drought.

Average rainfall during April in Oxfordshire was 43 per cent below the average.

The ban the first in the region for 15 years bans the domestic use of hosepipes and sprinklers in the garden or for washing cars.

It is not forbidden to fill a watering can with a hosepipe, which can then be used in the garden.

The water company said of its eight million customers, 428 overall had been reported for flouting the restrictions.

The water company is operating a "three strikes and you're out" system.

First-time offenders will receive a written warning, a repeat offence will incur another letter and a personal visit, and a third offence could result in legal action and possibly a £1,000 fine.

Thames Water spokesman Andrew Boyd said there had been a two per cent drop in water demand in Oxfordshire since the ban came in.

But he said: "We don't know if this is down to the ban, but I hope it is. Hopefully the restrictions will save more water as we go on through the summer.

"It is early days so it is difficult to assess quite what effect the ban has had. We're hoping it will have an effect we don't take pleasure in restricting people's use of water."

The on-going drought has caused sales of water butts by Thames Water to soar by 900 per cent in a year. Demand for its £19.95 water butts had risen so much that there was now a waiting list for orders.