A hosepipe ban for Oxfordshire residents could still be on the cards after water bosses warned that April yielded 92 per cent of expected rainfall.

In March, Thames Water managers said they could not rule out restrictions this summer after the Thames Valley received just half the expected rainfall since November, making it the third driest winter since records began in 1882.

Now the company has revealed that, even after some welcome rainfall in April, the pressure is still on residents to conserve water to avoid the first hosepipe ban in 15 years.

Recent showers boosted water levels to 46 millilitres of rain in April, 92 per cent of the expected amount for that month.

But the six months from last November to the end of April were still the fourth driest winter on record.

Thames Water customer services manager Duncan McCombie said: "The showers and storms of recent weeks have been very welcome but we need a lot more.

"They follow five months of well below average rainfall and there is a long way to go before we revive the groundwater sources which feed local rivers.

"A hosepipe ban is still a possibility and cannot be ruled out -- a lot will depend on the levels of rainfall in the coming months.

"The start of spring also means that much of the rain we get now will either evaporate during the warmer weather or be taken up by trees and plants.

"We would like to remind customers that there is still a good reason to think carefully about how they use and recycle water, particularly at a time when many people will be working in their gardens."

Tips to save water include washing the car with a bucket instead of a hose, and ensuring washing machines and dishwashers have a full load before they are used.

In the garden, advice includes installing a water butt, considering drought-resistant plants and avoiding the use of sprinklers, which can use as much water in an hour as a family of four does in a day.