LONDON, July 29 — Just over half of England, comprising swathes of the country’s central, eastern and southern regions, has been declared in drought following “record-low rain and exceptionally high temperatures”, the UK government said today.

“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy,” Helen Wakeham, the government Environment Agency’s director of water said. — AFP