Thames Water has announced a hosepipe ban affecting 10.1 million customers, including those in Twickenham, after an "exceptionally warm and dry spring".

The restrictions mean that starting today (Thursday, 23 July), hosepipes should not be used for watering gardens or allotments, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or swimming pools, or cleaning windows.

The water company said its region had seen 40% of average rainfall, and more days at or above 34C this year than ever recorded before.

Nevil Muncaster, director of strategic water resources, told the BBC: "We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment."

The ban applies to all customers that Thames Water supplies with drinking water and comes into effect on Thursday.

The company provides water to customers across parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Surrey, the Thames Valley, Greater London, and the surrounding areas.

It provides water and wastewater services to 16 million customers overall.

It said water use was currently 10% above normal in the Thames Valley and Home Counties and 7% above normal in London, which amounted to an extra 100 million litres of water every day.

Muncaster added: "Recent heatwaves and a very dry spring and summer have led to sustained high demand.

"While there is enough water for essential use, we need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing."

He said teams were "working 24/7 to keep water moving, fix leaks and support customers" and that the situation would be kept "under close review", with restrictions lifted when safe to do so.

The company said this year's hot weather had meant during peak periods "water has been used faster than it can be treated and moved through parts of the network, placing additional pressure on local supplies".

"Customers should continue to use water for essential needs such as drinking, cooking, washing and hygiene," it said.

"Buckets and watering cans can still be used, and there are exemptions, including where water use is necessary for health and safety reasons or for customers with severe mobility problems."

Thames Water is about £20bn in debt.

The government recently rejected a rescue proposal, and the BBC revealed that the company's main lenders are preparing a legal challenge in case the new Andy Burnham-led government takes the firm into public hands.

Do's and don'ts

Thames Water says that hosepipes and pressure washers should not be used to:

• water gardens, lawns, or allotments (this includes the use of sprinklers)
• fill paddling pools, swimming pools, or hot tubs
• clean vehicles, patios, paths, driveways, walls, windows, or any outdoor areas

Plants and gardens can be watered with a watering can, and cars can be washed using a bucket

Some exemptions may include:

• Wastewater only customers
• Health and safety needs
• Animal welfare, including pets, livestock, and fish
• Watering food crops and certain newly planted trees
• Customers who cannot reasonably adjust their water use because of a disability or medical condition

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