The Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park has been dry for the entire summer due to a technical fault.

Royal Parks have apologised to visitors who found the fountain without water "particularly given the prolonged high temperatures we've been experiencing".

The fountain, a popular spot to cool down during periods of hot weather, first opened in 2004 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales who died in 1997.

The closure, publicly announced by Royal Parks on July 1, was triggered by a mechanical breakdown in the pump, followed by a failure with system software that prevented the water supply from being restored.

The charity's spokesperson said that the fountain had "remained dry for longer than we hoped" while specialist teams worked to resolve the issue.

The water supply network feeds multiple other locations across the capital's Royal Parks, which has compounded broader operational pressures over the record-setting hot and dry summer.

The memorial undergoes year-round maintenance and investment, and officials expect water to begin flowing again in the fountain "in the next few weeks".

The £3.6m memorial fountain, which was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth in July 2004, has had to shut down several times before.

Weeks after the opening, the fountain closed temporarily after three visitors slipped and hurt themselves while paddling.

In January 2005, it closed for four months' renovation work, and there was also a 10 day closure the following summer after ministers blamed members of the public who littered and caused drains to block.