SALES of water butts are booming as consumers take advantage of heavy winter rainfall to save supplies, a leading home improvement and garden retailer revealed.

B&Q said sales of water butts have more than tripled compared to the same period last year.

It comes at a time when some water companies are only just lifting hosepipe bans following last year's drought.

John Gurr, B&Q spokesman, said: "It is not surprising people are desperate to get their hands on a water butt, many people realised too late last year and were left without water when the hosepipe bans hit."