VISITORS to a North Yorkshire beauty spot are being warned to behave or face being punished.

The Hambleton Community Safety Partnership is to run a safety awareness roadshow at Cod Beck reservoir, at Sheepwash, near Osmotherley, on Sunday and Monday.

It will give advice on what visitors can and cannot do, ranging from a ban on swimming in the reservoir to warnings over illegal parking.

So far this year, 50 motorists have been fined for parking illegally and two swimmers have been told to get out of the water.

"Partnership officers want to ensure that everyone who visits the reservoir goes home safely," said Simon Bassindale, of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority

"We also want them to respect the beauty spot they are visiting - observing the countryside code, not lighting fires, not camping and taking their rubbish home - and not swimming in the reservoir's cold water."

He said illegal parking caused chaos and could lead to emergency vehicles being hemmed in and losing minutes that could be vital in saving a life.