These pictures show how quickly a fast-flowing river can run dry during hot weather. Just a few weeks ago the Greta in County Durham was in full flow, but yesterday children were able to walk along the river bed.
The waterway, a tributary of the River Tees, flows over porous limestone, so is generally susceptible to drying up.
But Sally Thornton, 51, of Bowes, said: “The river has dried up very suddenly this year. It’s amazing. Kids are having fun playing in it, but I wonder if we’ll have a hosepipe ban this summer.”
Last week, United Utilities issued drought warnings across northwest Britain after the driest start to a year since 1964.