THAMES Water has revealed it is "seriously considering" applying for emergency measures to prevent all non-essential water use.

Sports grounds, parks and businesses across Oxfordshire, such as car washes and commercial building cleaners, could be severely affected if the company was allowed to bring in the ban.

Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban on April 3, preventing householders using hosepipes and sprinklers, but admitted at the time that water use had not decreased.

Spokesman Robin Markwell said this week that the drought situation remained "very serious" despite heavy rainfall in the past few weeks and the company was now considering applying to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for a drought order.

This would allow it to ban commercial businesses and recreational facilities from all non-essential water use.

The company said sporting events would be affected and it was already in talks with venues about how to minimise its impact.

Mr Markwell could not estimate when the firm might apply for the order, but said: "It's a decision we are reviewing on a day-to-day basis. At the moment, we are monitoring the effect of the hosepipe ban and seeing what the heavens bring, but it is something we are seriously considering."

Three other water firms, Southern Water, Sutton and East Surrey and Mid Kent, have already applied for drought orders.

Mr Markwell said it was likely the ban would apply across the region, including Oxfordshire, if Thames Water went ahead with the order.

It could apply to watering public gardens, parks, cricket pitches, bowling greens, allotments and other open spaces. Car washing, filling private swimming pools and paddling pools could also be banned.

A drought order has not been imposed in Oxfordshire for 30 years, although Thames Water introduced a ban in the Swindon and Cirencester areas 15 years ago. The hosepipe ban was brought in in Oxfordshire following 17 months of below-average rainfall. In March, the average rainfall in the county was 79 per cent below the average for the time of year, which is equivalent to 49mm of rain.

Eleven Oxfordshire residents have been reported to Thames Water for flouting the ban by using hosepipes. Persistent offenders could be fined up to £1,000.

Meanwhile, the hosepipe ban has left stocks empty at garden centres across Oxfordshire as householders buy up water butts.

Staff said that the demand was so great that water butt supplies had 'dried up'.

Every centre and store that we spoke to had sold out of butts, which collect and store rainfall for garden watering.

Some centres had been told not to expect deliveries for up to six weeks such is the demand, while others were hoping for stock arrivals later this week.

Kevin Beckett, assistant general manager and senior buyer at Yarnton Nurseries, said: "We've not been able to get any for at least two weeks."

Sandra Coppock, of Wyevale Garden Centre, South Hinksey, said people had "gone crazy" since Thames Water introduced the ban.

"People are wanting them as soon as the lorries arrive we haven't even had chance to get them on to the shelves," she said.

Michael Retallick, of Waterperry Garden Centre, in Wheatley, said: "We have sold more water butts in the last month than over the past three years."