UNITED Utilities bosses confirmed this morning that the hosepipe ban planned for next week has been called off.

The plans followed one of Bolton's hottest months on record, with temperatures in July reaching as high as 30°C on some days.

Resources, including the Wayoh and Entwistle reservoirs in Edgworth, were left at some of the lowest levels in the country, with shocking images emerging of the cracked surfaces revealed by the receding waters.

It came at the worst time, as fire fighters were forced to use mass amounts of water to deal with the Winter Hill and Saddleworth Moor wildfires, which blazed for up to three weeks and are still being monitored.

In addition, there were a number of leaks across Bolton, with around 90 homes left without water in mid-July after a ruptured pipe flooded Hacken Bridge Road.

The ongoing problems led to a warning, on July 17, that up to seven million homes around the North West could be hit by a ban.

United Utilities even applied for a 'drought permit' which would allow the company to bring more water from other areas of the country.

However, the last week has provided much-needed downpours, refilling supplies and providing relief to stretched fire crews across the North West.

Now, Dr Martin Padley, water services director, has thanked residents who worked to reduce water consumption and free up pressure on the system but warned that a future ban could still be on the cards

He said: “Given the improved position, helped by recent rainfall, we do not want to inconvenience customers unnecessarily at this time. However, the long range forecast from the Met Office is one of relatively dry weather into the autumn, so future restrictions are still a possibility if more rain doesn’t arrive.

“In the meantime, we are continuing to step up our own response and over the coming weeks you will see our teams out and about, bringing additional water supplies on line and fixing even more leaks. We are working closely with the Environment Agency in monitoring the water resources situation and we still urge our customers to please help us by using water wisely where they can.”