A reservoir in Cornwall is now at 90% capacity – six months after a hosepipe ban was lifted.

South West Water said its two “biggest strategic reservoirs” had successfully refilled, following water restrictions that lasted more than a year.

The water company said both Colliford Reservoir in Cornwall and Roadford Reservoir had now reached more than 90% storage capacity.

It put this down to “record-level investment,” saying it had invested £125 million to increase resources in Devon and Cornwall by 30% and 45% respectively – adding that heavy rainfall and customers doing more to save water had also contributed.

A hosepipe ban was introduced in August 2022 that was not lifted until September 2023.

South West Water said its plans to improve capacity were now 70% complete, with a desalination facility in Par and a new water treatment works in Porth.

The work had led to Colliford Lake now being at 96% storage, compared to 55% this time last year, it said. Roadford is at 100 per cent capacity.

Last year the company vowed to ensure both Colliford and Roadford reached 90% storage by April 1 this year, in order to “break the drought cycle”.

David Harris, South West Water’s drought and resilience director, said: “In 2022 we saw climate change unfold before our eyes as Devon and Cornwall experienced one of the hottest and driest years on record.

“As visitors arrived to the area in their millions, our reservoirs hit their lowest ever levels and we fought hard to protect river health.

“Since then we’ve invested record amounts to deliver our drought plan, and that plan is working.

“While there’s no doubt that the wettest February on record has helped reservoir levels, our interventions and the hard work of our customers to reduce their water usage has combined to recharge our biggest reservoirs ahead of the spring and summer months.”