A SAFETY warning has been issued after youngsters were seen playing on a frozen pond in Willersey.

A concerned member of the public rang police officers on Thursday afternoon having spotted the young people by the village duck pond.

Two community support officers attended the scene and spoke to two young people, advising them of the dangers of playing on the water.

Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman Alexa Collicott said: “Even though we are experiencing record-breaking low temperatures the ice on ponds and lakes is not necessarily strong enough to walk on. It can be very thin in places and can break easily. If someone does fall through the ice at the temperatures we have been experiencing the consequences could be fatal.

“The danger to anyone not heeding this warning is enormous. Therefore we are urging parents to take a few minutes to talk to their children about the dangers of frozen lakes.

“We don’t want to stop people enjoying the winter weather but safety is paramount and we urge everyone to be mindful of the dangers.”

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have also advised residents not to go onto ice-covered lakes, ponds or rivers and reminded parents not to leave their children unsupervised near open water.

They have urged pet owners not to go to the rescue of dogs which have fallen through ice as it is not likely to take their weight either, and to call 999 if they do see a person or an animal trapped in water.