Ladybower's lost village appears as drought continues at popular reservoir

It is now almost 85 years since two villages in the Peak District were flooded to create a new reservoir.

The churches, pubs, farms, schools and homes of Derwent and Ashopton were submerged in 1943, and what remains today is usually hidden beneath the surface of Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire's picturesque Upper Derwent Valley.

The creation of the reservoir was to help provide water to the raplidly growing nearby cities of Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.

However, this summer’s heatwaves and the drought conditions created by the historically low rainfall means water levels are so low the wreckage of those once-thriving communities has once again been exposed, giving visitors a fascinating insight into the area’s past.

Historically, Ladybower is between 50 and 100 per cent full at this time of year. However, Severn Trent Water, which looks after the reservoir, said it is currently 31.6 per cent full.

As well as buildings from the villages, a pump house and the plug holes which usually sit beneath the water are also visible.

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