IN THE midst of a heatwave there's nothing quite as nice a cool paddling pool for kids to splash around in and cool off.
But with hosepipe bans in place in some parts of the country Brits are having to wave goodbye to their paddling pools this summer.
One mum confessed that she filled her tiny paddling pool up to help her son cope in the heat, but quickly felt very judged by her neighbours for doing so.
Despite it only being a small paddling pool and not a large swimming pool, the mum's guilt was strong.
She posted on Mumsnet: "We put water into ours this morning, half filled and then I read an email from our water company thanking everyone for saving water and encouraging us to shower less and now I'm filled with guilt and shame.
"I feel like the neighbours are all going from behind their blinds 'look at those ignorant a***holes at number **"
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The mum's guilt stopped her from filling the pool up any further, but other users reckoned she should just fill it anyway.
One mum thought that it wouldn't be too much of a waste as long as she made the most out of the water.
"If I fill one then I will be doing my best to make sure that the water lasts as long as possible – using a fitted sheet over it at night so it doesn't become an insect graveyard, and towels down so the kids feet aren't too grassy when they get in," she explained.
Another simply didn't see the issue and wrote: "It's a paddling pool and it's about to get really hot so I would do the same.
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"Once the kids have finished it you can use it for the garden so recycling the water.
"I wouldn't even think about what my neighbours would think to be honest."
Another mum jabbed: "I filled the dog paddling pool yesterday and washed my car. I pay enough in water rates as it is.
"I will use the water to water my plants, when the pool gets dirty."
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