People should take showers instead of baths, the head of the Environment Agency has said, as he warned of the need for personal water targets.

Sir James Bevan also suggested that householders could help avoid water supply shortages by turning the tap off while brushing their teeth and ensuring the washing machine is full before starting a cycle.

The Environment Agency (EA) is warning that people need to use less water and companies must curb leaks to prevent future shortages and damage to rivers and wildlife, the Environment Agency has warned.

Many sources of water supplies are already overstretched and, with climate change and a growing population, much of England could see significant supply shortages by the 2050s - particularly in the South East.

The EA wants people to have a personal water target, as it urged them to use water more wisely.