In Florida 3 years ago the state governor instigated emergency powers to prevent exploitation whether it be hoarding or price hiking for food or fuel. The penalties were severe. Complaints were minimal.
Draconian measures they maybe but there are a minority in this country who have no respect for anything and its time they were dealt with.

Eian Nelson, Cambridge, Cambs

dont just moan about the tories, labours been in charge for ten years and have not hardly done anything for flood defences in this country.

dave, essex, uk

It's really kind for the German humanitarian group to fly water here, but there isn't a shortage of drinking water in England.

Surely Thames Water (I believe the country's biggest provider of water, and Severn Water's neighbour) could help out here.

Or aren't their new Australian masters prepared to spend money transporting water for a British national emergency?

Jessica, Reading, UK

we should have got the military in to take control of all the water tankers. get them in now

john, DERBY,

Sorry to sound so reactionary, but in the past somebody would have just decked the teenagers ******* in bowsers. Nowadays you know it's you who'll be penalised for it so nobody dares.

Sam, berkshire, UK

A rather intelligent comment from Mike in London - you have done yourself proud there. It must have taken you a long time.

The behaviour of the idiots urinating into the bowsers and the selfish attitude of many, typifies the UK as a whole. It appears that there is a minority in UK society that are keeping this country afloat. The rest, and we know who they are (not working, children roaming the streets like rats, not interested in anything but getting their cash off the government & copying DVD's / selling imported cigarettes), are the ones dragging the country into the abysmal state it is in.

The solution to this problem is not an easy one. Short term, the bowsers need to be gaurded by police, or community groups to prevent vandalism & antisocial behaviour. For the long term, we need to rid the country of this 'underclass' - maybe we should stop rewarding those who don't work & breed like rats. Eventually, we may have a socially acceptable society.

Marcus, Birmingham, UK

It's Gloucester. This behaviour is to be expected.

Mike, London,

It's always been said that we're three square meals from anarchy and this situation seems to confirm that point

David, London, England

Paul Ritchie is right. Impose martial law if necessary. It's a national emergency and surely a no-brainer?

Lee, Suffolk, UK

Good to see that the publicly-owned Scottish Water, for all the criticisms of it from the private sector, is moving to provide a service to its 'efficient' private rivals.

Maybe Severn Trent can divert some of its anticipated £300m profit to Scottish Water to assist in paying off debt charges that the private sector in England got wiped away at priovatisation by the Tories!

Chris, Glasgow, Scotland

Am I allowed an opinion on this? Yes actually, my elderly parents live in Gloucester and like many have suffered through the greed and unacceptable behaviour of the selfish.

In such circumstances all bowsers should be guarded by the military. These idiots will soon behave themselves.

Paul Ritchie, Southampton,