If you thought it a bit weird to receive a text from Thames Water imploring you to go easy on the sprinklers, don't worry, you weren't the only one to get it.

The company sent the warning message to 45,000 customers in Chessington as demand for water keeps rising there during the ongoing heatwave.

Lawrence Gosden, Thames Water chief operating officer, said: “We need your support as there is a risk to water supplies.

"We cannot supply homes in the Chessington area with enough water for hosepipes and sprinklers.

"Please use as little as you can, especially in the garden, to keep taps running for everyone during the heatwave.”

Thames Water has increased the amount of water it is pumping into the network by 17 per cent during the ongoing heatwave, but is now requesting customers slow down – especially in the garden.

“The heatwave is here to stay for at least another two weeks and the sheer volume of water being used is so great that some of our customers are already experiencing low pressure, particularly at peak times," Mr Gosden said.

“This is happening because water simply cannot travel around our network quickly enough – it’s like running the dishwasher, washing machine, kitchen tap, and then trying to have a shower at home.

"A garden sprinkler uses as much water in an hour as a family of four need for a day, and your grass will soon recover."