Residents in Fife are being urged to use water wisely with levels currently lower than usual due to a summer heatwave.

Scottish Water have advised locals to take measures including: taking shorter showers rather than baths, only using washing machines or dishwashers when fully loaded, using watering cans rather than hose pipes on the garden and switching off the tap while brushing their teeth.

The majority of customers in the area are served by Glendevon and Glenfarg reservoirs where water levels are currently lower than normal as a result of the prolonged dry and hot weather.

Scottish Water is now closely monitoring the reservoirs and moving water between them to ensure residents continue to have an adequate supply of drinking water.

The corporation say they are working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) so that measures are being taken to supplement and sustain supplies.

Water is being transferred from the River Earn to Glenfarg and supplies are being used from there to make sure Glendevon has sufficient resources.

SEPA recently announced that Scotland looks set to record its driest six month period since 1984 - based on readings between February and July this year.

Scottish Water say that If everyone in Fife reduced the length of their shower time by two minutes just once it would save a total of 5.7 million litres of water.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water's chief operating officer, said: "While the recent rainfall is very welcome there has been a prolonged dry spell in Fife in the preceding weeks and water levels remain lower than would be expected at this time of year. Further sustained rainfall is needed to return water levels to normal levels.

"In the meantime, we are would urge customers in Fife to use water wisely as taking simple steps to preserve water helps us maximise water resources.

"Scottish Water will continue to monitor water levels in the area take measures to maintain a supply of quality drinking water to all our customers."

In some areas of Scotland there has been a 30% increase in demand for water during the summer so far and an additional 140 million litres are currently being produced and pushed through the system by Scottish Water every day to meet current customer usage.

Further information is advice is available on Scottish Water's website or from their Customer Helpline on 0800 0778 778.