WE might have become more familiar with rivers overflowing in recent years, after record floods in 2020.

But blazing sunshine and temperatures of over 30 degrees have left the river Wye in Hereford low, tempting swimmers and paddlers to cool off in the water.

And members of our We Grew Up in Hereford Facebook group have been reminiscing on previous lows, when it was possible to walk across the river while barely getting your socks wet.

“I can remember walking out to the middle of the riverbed in 1976 under the Vicky bridge. Quite the thing,” said Iain Thompson.

Sharon Davies also remembered the level dropping in 1976.

“My cousin and I crossed it many times with our bikes,” she said.

Margaret Bray, who had been living in Hong Kong, said she had come home in 1976 expecting to see her green and pleasant home

country, but instead being met by drought.

“I was shocked and disappointed,” she said.

Bruce Bishop remembered having a barbecue in the middle of the river. “Lovely memories,” he said.

And for the teams taking part in the annual river Wye raft race, the water levels presented quite a challenge.

“We carried the raft for quite a few miles,” said Rob Hales.

One of the driest and warmest summers on record, the 66-day-long 1976 heatwave brought severe drought to Britain after an exceptionally dry winter and spring.

Parliament brought in the Drought Act and a Minister for Drought was appointed as rivers ran dry and reservoirs fell to extremely low levels.

Crops withered and failed in the relentless heat, forcing food prices up, while hospitals saw a significant rise in patients.

The drought eventually came to an end in the last week of August, as severe thunderstorms hit, leading to an unusually wet September and October