THE arid conditions around Ludlow and the Teme Valley are now creating concern that many water supplies could dry up as happened in the long hot summer of 1976.

For residents and farmers around Mortimer Forest who rely on wells and boreholes for basic living requirements and sustaining livestock, this has given added worry and galvanised opposition to the proposed development of 68 holiday cabins which will bring increased demand for fresh water, estimated to be 100,000 to 120,000 litres every day.

Colin Richards, spokesman for the Save Mortimer Forest group, has claimed that the dry spell shows a risk of opening the forest for holiday chalets.

“The original boast of Forest Holidays that future customers could enjoy ‘sheer decadence’ by indulging in such excess is now so insulting and inappropriate that many local people.

Mr Richards said that there should be more respect for the environment.