EAST Anglia should face no water restrictions or hosepipe bans this year.That was the confident prediction today from Anglian Water bosses despite the region suffering its second successive dry winter.

EAST Anglia should face no water restrictions or hosepipe bans this year.

That was the confident prediction today from Anglian Water bosses despite the region suffering its second successive dry winter.

Winter rainfall is vital to replenish reservoirs, rivers and underground water sources.

Any rain that falls between April and September is either soaked up by growing plants, evaporates or runs off straight into the sea.

November, December, and January are usually the wettest months replenishing the reservoirs - but this year only about a third of the normal rainfall has fallen during this period.

But Anglian Water chiefs remain confident about the rest of the year.

Spokesman Dan Baker said: “We don't expect to have any restrictions anywhere this year. There is no shortage of water in our region.

“This is the driest part of the country - we get less than half the average rainfall for Britain - but the work that we, and our customers, have done should ensure there is no danger to supplies.”

During the 1990s the company invested heavily in its network, reducing leaks in pipes. “We now have the world's lowest leakage rate and that really is paying dividends.

“The other factors are that we have twice the national average of customers with water meters and although it has been very dry here, it hasn't been as dry as it has been in the south east corner of England where there are real problems.”

The fact that the region is so dry is an advantage for the company because it knows how to manage limited supplies.