Households must stop using tap water on their gardens and cars for good as pressure on supplies is worse than ever, the official watchdog has said.

Rachel Fletcher, the head of water services regulator Ofwat, called on the Government to find environmentally appropriate methods instead.

Miss Fletcher said gardens must have water butts so that homeowners can recycle rainwater for outdoor use, and suggested families could also recycle water from baths and showers.

It comes as Britain recovers from a heatwave where record temperatures have been recorded up and down the country.

Ms Fletcher told MPs on the Commons environment committee: "We do as a sector need to think about transferring water from one region to another. And we have got to shift the frontier in the technology we are using in delivering water supplies.