A HOSEPIPE ban may be bad news for residents, but a conservation group worried about the future of one of the county's rivers say it's crucial to stop it drying out.

No water has flowed along the River Chess in Chesham for the last eight months - the longest dry spell since the famously hot summer of 1976.

And Paul Jennings, Chairman of the River Chess Association, says "something dramatic has to happen" to secure its long term future.

He said dry spells are normal and tend to crop up in seven yearly cycles.

But he said the current drought is the worst he's ever known, with two successive dry winters exacerbating the problem.

Although Mr Jennings said the river drying up permanently is "unlikely", he said a third dry winter is unprecedented and the Association has everything crossed the forecast is for rain later this year.

He said: "It would lead to long stretches drying up, which would be a big concern. We can only hope the next couple of winters will be wetter than normal.

"It's bone dry and has been for the last eight months.

"It's a major concern and it's a problem we can't resolve. The only thing that can resolve it is a huge amount of rain over a protracted period of time. It takes an exceptional amount of water for a long period of time.

"We are past the stage of being able to rectify the problem."

Mr Jennings added: "The long term future isn't good. The infrastructure can't cope with that ever increasing demand as the population grows and becomes denser.

"Something dramatic has to happen. Other sources of water have to be found."

Water stored in the Chiltern hills' chalk aquifers is used in the national supply, but increased demand has led to levels dropping and leading to various rivers, including the Chess, drying up.

Mr Jennings said the only way to keep supplies in the aquifer topped up is to reduce demand - which includes banning the use of hosepipes.

He said he was in support of the ban.

He said: "It does make a huge difference. If the public can do their bit, that would be a great help."