While almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire are classed as experiencing 'prolonged dry weather', falling short of official drought status. Tony Grayling, strategic drought lead at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: "Drought conditions are worsening and will continue to do so until we see significant and sustained rainfall. "We know that the hot and dry weather is taking a real toll on farming, and there will be long-lasting impacts on our environment. "Every drop we can save is a drop more for your local farmers, local wildlife and local rivers." "This summer, we have seen an increasing number of incidents linked to prolonged hot, dry weather and exceptionally low river flows."