The source of the Thames has dried up as drought conditions continue to hit England. 

Pictures from the spot considered the starting point of the river reveal the water has vanished and the bed is completely exposed. 

The source has shifted more than two miles downstream from Thames Head near Cirencester in Gloucestershire and it’s unclear when the full length of the river will flow again.

With temperatures set to soar again in the coming days, forecasters have warned there is ‘very little meaningful rain’ heading for the country.

Parts of southern England are parched and while the mercury is not expected to hit the record highs of last month, its looks like the unusually hot and dry summer will continue.

Rivers and reservoirs across the country are at exceptionally low levels after months of below average rainfall.

The UK recorded its driest July since 1935 last month and restrictions on water usage in some parts of the country are being considered.

South East Water and Southern Water have already announced hosepipe bans, which will come into force in the coming days, and more could follow suit.

It has also emerged that Thames Water’s desalination plant, at Beckton, east London, which was built to deliver up to 100 million litres of water a day in dry weather events, is currently out of service.

Met Office chief forecaster Steve Willington said: ‘Many areas of the UK, especially the south, will witness temperatures several degrees higher than average, but these values are likely to be well below the record-breaking temperatures we saw in mid-July.

‘As the high pressure builds there is very little meaningful rain in the forecast, especially in those areas in the south of England, which experienced very dry conditions last month.’

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of The Rivers Trust, criticised water firms for holding off announcing restrictions, saying it could lead to a spike in demand and put water systems under further pressure.

He said: ‘Every year we get to this perilous position and at the last possible moment, when the rivers are at their lowest, we get discussion of temporary use bans.

‘Announcing it at the last minute causes people to rush to wash their cars and fill their paddling pools, wash the dog, and causes an increase in demand before the ban comes in.

‘This should happen before the rivers come to a desperate condition and there’s not enough water for wildlife.’

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