RESIDENTS across Cornwall have been left angered after automated calls from South West Water warning them about its hosepipe ban woke them in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Customers said they were startled by unexpected landline calls shortly after midnight, with some fearing the ringing could mean a family emergency.

South West Water’s temporary hosepipe ban came into force at 00:01 BST on Saturday, affecting customers across Cornwall, Devon, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly.

The restrictions were introduced as the region continues to face pressure on water resources following a period of dry weather.

South West Water had sent communications to customers on Friday to make them aware of the temporary use ban and any exemptions. However, a number of residents said they received automated voice messages after midnight, with some calls reportedly arriving between midnight and 1am.

The issue prompted a wave of complaints on social media, including from residents across Cornwall who said elderly relatives had been particularly distressed by the unexpected calls.

Jo Piedot, who said she is nearly 90, also criticised the timing of the call, saying being woken by the telephone was particularly alarming because she feared a member of her family could be calling with an emergency.

Liz Eustice said she was “so shocked” when her phone rang at 12.45am that she initially thought there had been an accident involving someone in her family, while Jenny Groves summed up the concern felt by many recipients, saying: “You always think the worst when the phone goes at that time of night.”

The calls were also criticised by Barrie Williams, who said he was woken by a persistent landline call at around 1am.

He said he rushed to answer because he feared the worst, only to discover it was a recorded message informing him that the hosepipe ban had come into force.

The incident has added to wider frustration among some South West Water customers, with the company facing criticism over the timing of the communications.

South West Water has since apologised for the overnight messages and said it is investigating what went wrong.

A company spokesperson said: “We sent communications to customers on Friday to ensure they were aware of the temporary use ban and any applicable exemptions.

“We are aware that some customers received automated voice messages later than intended, including during the early hours of the morning, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

“We are currently working with our communications provider to understand exactly why this occurred and are reviewing the process and controls used for future customer communications.”

The company has not said how many customers received the automated calls during the early hours.

The hosepipe ban remains in force across the region with customers being urged to follow the restrictions and check which uses of water are covered by the temporary ban. The restrictions are intended to reduce demand on the water network while South West Water manages supplies during the current dry conditions.