The National Farmers' Union said low rainfall and very hot weather have dried soil - with some farmers in drought-hit areas also now having water access restricted.

Wheat is half normal height, while England is seeing earliest ever harvest as farmers battle to salvage what they can of their crops

Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, said production of oats this year has been 'very, very poor', and that wheat has been suffering similarly due to the prolonged drought