United Utilities wants to draw water from three of Cumbria's lakes to ensure supplies as the dry summer continues.

The move comes as Haweswater and Thirlmere reservoirs stand half-empty.

The water company has applied for drought permits for Ullswater and Windermere and a drought order for Ennerdale as stocks run low in its reservoirs.

The company is already extracting extra water from boreholes in the west of the county and is due to impose a hosepipe ban on its seven million customers across the north west from August 5.

The Environment Agency must now decide whether such a move is possible without causing environmental damage.

If there are objections, a public inquiry could be held and United Utilities could be required to demonstrate what other measures it had taken to control demand and deal with leaks.

The company must ask Defra for permission to increase its abstraction of water from Ennerdale Water because it feeds the River Ehen which is a Special Area of Conservation.

It is requesting to increase, for a period of three months, its present drawdown limit from 1.7 metres to 2.5 metres below the crest of the dam.

It has also applied to the EA to take water from Lake Windermere when the flow of the River Leven is lower than permitted under its current abstraction licence.

The second permit would allow the company to continue to abstract water from Ullswater when the flow in the River Eamont is lower than permitted under its current abstraction licence.

Taking from the lakes would reduce the amount it would need to take from Haweswater and Thirlmere reservoirs, allowing for increased storage there for longer-term use.

If approved, both permits will apply for six months.

Current levels at Haweswater and Thirlmere reservoirs stand at 48.9% capacity, compared with 76.5% at this time last year.

Haweswater is so low that the outlines of the village of Mardale, which was swamped in 1935 to create the reservoir, are possible to walk alongside.

The water company has been criticised for losing 430 million litres of water every day through leaks.

Water services director Martin Padley said: "The reducing raw water reservoir levels are not surprising given the ongoing lack of rainfall.

"Applying for drought permits is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we are working closely with the Environment Agency, to ensure that water supplies are protected for both customers and the environment."

Anyone caught flouting the hosepipe ban when it comes into force could face a fine of upto £1,000.