AN emergency plan to flow extra water from the Midlands into the drought-hit eastern part of the UK is under consideration by bosses at Severn Trent Water.

It would mean 30 million litres of water each day – enough to supply 100,000 homes in the Anglian Water region – being transferred 80 miles from Birmingham to Newark.

The plan will not affect supplies to homes in Derbyshire. David Essex, water strategy manager for Severn Trent, said: "Technical discussions are under way and this could happen as early as June.

"By the early spring we will be in a position where we know how much we will be able to support our neighbouring water companies."

The Environment Agency has declared a drought in areas of the east of England.

Severn Trent Water has been taking steps recently to make sure there is enough water across the Midlands and has said it is not predicting any usage restrictions this year.

The company has been focusing on moving supplies across its water grid from the wetter west of the country to the drier east to balance out regional supplies.

Mr Essex said: "Careful water resources management from river and ground water sources, including the development of a new over-land pipeline at Draycote Reservoir [south of Rugby] has also helped to strengthen the system.

"This could be the first example of emergency water trading and a sign of things to come as water becomes scarcer and needs to be moved around the country."