The National Farmers' Union (NFU) called an urgent meeting with the EA after it issued notices of cessation of abstraction licences to around 240 farmers across the Cam and Ely Ouse catchment.

This was due to the hot, dry weather causing low river flows in the catchment, which includes much of Breckland and stretches down to Newmarket and Cambridge.

But now the agency has lifted the restrictions for about 150 of the affected farmers, with the IDB (internal drainage board) able to add more water into the system.

Instead, new temporary restrictions will be put in place allowing irrigation on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights only, from 6pm to 6am.

NFU vice president Rachel Hallos said: “This was a huge and very immediate concern for many of our members, who are already having great........

© Eastern Daily Press