WIRRAL residents are using an extra 8.8 MILLION pints of tap water a day as temperatures continue to soar.

However despite usage increasing, there are no plans to bring in a hosepipe ban.

According to water board United Utilities, there has been a 6% increase in water usage over the last two weeks as the borough basks in the warm weather.

The company says it is sending an extra 5m litres to homes and are urging people to use water wisely as the heatwave looks set to continue.

However a spokesman for United Utilities said Wirral is in fact being more economical with its usage compared to some neighbouring areas.

He said: “In the Wirral area, we have noticed an increase over the past two weeks of around six per cent.

"That’s 5m litres extra a day we’re sending to customers’ taps, or 8.8m pints.

“Our customers in the Wirral area appear to be using water more sparingly than their counterparts across the North West, where we have recorded a 10% rise overall.

“It’s understandable that people will use more water when it is warm, but we always encourage customers to use supplies wisely all year around, whether it’s hot or not."

The spokesman added: “Our reservoirs across the region are around 79% full at the moment so there are no plans for a hosepipe ban, but we always monitor supplies closely.”

Officials have sent out health warnings as Britain continues to swelter in the country's first heatwave for seven years.

After five consecutive days basking in 30C-plus temperatures, forecasters said Britain was in the midst of its first prolonged heatwave since 2006.

The local forecast for Wirral shows no let up in the sunshine for the next seven days.

The Met Office has responded by issuing a "level three heat health watch" for London and the South East.

And it has advised "alertness and readiness" for those in the North West.