Christians praying for England's drought-hit farmers

A wet weekend has done little to allay the fears of farmers in drought-stricken parts of England.

The Government declared parts of East Anglia and the Midlands to be in a state of drought last Friday after England and Wales experienced their driest spring on record.

Despite heavy rain in recent days, water remains scarce and crops are dying without proper irrigation.

Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and western Norfolk have been especially badly hit.

Although not yet declared drought-stricken, low rain falls in other parts of England and Wales are also causing concern.

Graham Thompson, Chair of the East Anglia District of the Methodist Church, the long period of dry weather was of great concern to farmers, growers and gardeners.

“A great many farmers are irrigating their crops and there is great anxiety that there may not be sufficient water for the usual period of irrigation later in the growth cycle,” he said.

He said Methodist ministers in East Anglia were offering their support to the farming community and praying with Christians involved in farming.

“It would not be quite right to say that we are 'praying for rain' but we are asking God to guide our farmers as they seek to make the best use of the resources they have - and will be given - between now and harvest time,” he said.

Water companies have not yet issued a hosepipe ban and say there is currently enough water to get households through the summer.