‘Residents of California could now face fines of up to $500 (£300) a day for watering their lawns as the state takes unprecedented action to combat the worst drought in recent history.

In one of the most drastic responses yet to tackling the problem, state regulators on Tuesday voted to approve hefty penalties for people who waste water on non-essential uses, such as watering lawns, using sprinklers and washing cars.

Last month nearly 80 per cent of the Golden State was considered to be under “extreme” and “exceptional” drought conditions, the highest categories.’

Read more: California takes drastic action to tackle worst drought in recent history