ENVIRONMENT bosses have issued a warning over water scarcity in Ayrshire as summer looms.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published its first water scarcity report of 2023, which shows that Ayrshire and other parts of western Scotland have reached Early Warning levels.

SEPA says the area is already recording low river levels and dry ground conditions, and the organisation says it cannot rule out water shortages for businesses this summer.

Nathan Critchlow-Watton, SEPA's head of water and planning, said: “Given the mixed weather we’ve experienced in autumn and winter, and the fact that some parts are already at 'early warning' level, what happens next will shape the risk of water scarcity this summer.

“We can’t rule out a repeat of the water shortages businesses experienced last year.

“Taking the right steps now will lower the likelihood of resources reaching a critical level again this summer and SEPA having to suspend licences to protect the water environment.”

Advice and support is available at www.sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity.