Andalucía's regional government, the Junta, has warned of drought in the Axarquía as the end of the hydraulic year approaches.

La Viñuela reservoir currently contains 54 square hectometres of water; five less than this time last year and just 33 per cent of its capacity.

The situation is especially worrying for the subtropical fruit sector, as mango picking and avocado growing seasons get under way.

Some growers have already consumed their annual quotas of water from the reservoir and will not be able to access more until the new hydraulic year starts on 1 October.