Water levels at the island’s reservoirs are ’healthy’, despite the island being on course for the driest April in four decades, Manx Utilities says.

The recent dry spell began in the middle of March, since when the island has barely had any recordable rainfall.

A Manx Utilities spokesman said: ’Currently, West Baldwin is 77% full, however water is normally pumped from Sulby to West Baldwin to balance stocks, when required. Overall water stocks across the island are healthy for this time of year. We would always encourage people to "Use Water Wisely".’

Of the other reservoirs, Sulby is recorded as being 91% full, Clypse - 100% and Kerrowdhoo - 89%.

The Manx Independent raised the issue of water levels after a reader shared pictures of a reduced water level at West Baldwin (Injebreck) reservoir.

Our photographer Dave Kneale took pictures of the area which showed the sunken bridge at the far end of the reservoir was showing and the water had receded from the banks.

The Met Office said that the island would typically see 55mm of rainfall at this time of the year. But so far this month it has only recorded 2.6mm at Ronaldsway.

The last time the island had measurable rain was on April 12. But that was only light rain which lasted for a few hours.

The driest April on record at Ronaldsway was in 1980 when only 5.3mm fell in the whole month.

That included part of an eight-week-long dry spell which was one of the driest on record.

The dry weather is due to last until the end of this week, but the Met Office said it is too early to determine if the record could fall.

Remarkably, the recent dry spell comes off the back of the wettest February the island had experienced since 1980.

Figures show a total 114.5mm of rain fell in February this year, double the average level.