Water in many of Cumbria's rivers is disappearing rapidly as the summer heatwave sizzles on.

The Environment Agency has warned that flows are becoming exceptionally low on at least two county rivers.

The Rivers Derwent and Eamont have been flagged among six nationally flagged as areas of concern.

The Environment Agency measures river flow against daily historic averages for the same time of year.

It is the eighth week in a row that river flows nationally have decreased at a majority of the agency's indicator sites across England.

Bare stone is becoming an increasingly common sight in waterways across north and west Cumbria.

Among some of the most striking scenes are along the River Caldew.

At Hesket Newmarket, what is normally a rich-flowing stretch has dried up to a boulder field - which people are now taking to walking on.

There are similar scenes on the River Derwent at Cockermouth, while water levels at Bassenthwaite are also low.

Pleas continue to be made for people to use water responsibly ahead of United Utilities imposing a hosepipe ban, which is due to come into play on Wednesday.

There could, however, be some relief for those looking for some rain.

The Met Office is forecasting that a band of showery rain - along with thunder - will move northeastwards throughout today, falling heavy in places.

Conditions are also expected to be unsettled tomorrow, with wet and windy conditions expected.

Rain will be a welcome sight for farmers, many of whom are starting to struggle because of the hot weather.

A shortage of grass has meant that some have had to start using feed supplies, hitting them in the pocket.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Fund (RABI), which works extensively across Cumbria, is braced for a surge in calls for help.

Chairman Malcolm Thomas said: "As things stand, I’d envisage a busy autumn/winter for RABI, with many livestock farmers already forced to feed winter rations to their stock. Having to buy more feed will quickly drive up overheads.

“We’ve not seen weather like this in decades – and it’s worth remembering that it comes hot on the heels of a long cold winter and a particularly wet spring this year, which resulted in floods in many areas.

“Farmers have been constantly forced to reassess and change plans for some time now."

There have been warnings nationally about the impact of heavy rain falling on dry ground, bringing with it a risk of flooding.

Temperatures are likely to remain warm throughout the weekend.

Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said temperature records could still be broken.

"If conditions all come together, there's a 50 per cent chance that we will break the July record temperature and a 20 per cent chance of a new all-time UK record high," he added.

A repeated warning has been issued by firefighters in Cumbria for people to be careful in the water should the heatwave continue, with a 13-year-old boy having to be rescued from the River Eden in Carlisle on Wednesday.

A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Young people often misjudge their swimming ability - they may view a river or lake as a tempting means of cooling off during a hot spell of weather, but fail to appreciate the harmful effects that the cold water can have on their stamina and strength.

"Due to these dangers, we are urging people, particularly children and teenagers, not to swim anywhere other than in purpose-built and supervised swimming pools, unless they are members of an organised group."