VISITORS to a popular North Yorkshire beauty spot are to be given advice on how to stay safe while having fun as part of an awareness campaign.

Members of the Community Safety Partnership will gather at Cod Beck reservoir at Sheepwash, near Osmotherley, on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May, to hand out information on safety ‘dos and don’ts’.

The area suffers in particular from illegal parking on grass verges and pavements during busy periods, despite new parking bays being built.

"Illegal parking causes chaos and may lead to emergency vehicles losing minutes by being hemmed in – minutes that could be vital in saving a life," said partnership officer, Simon Bassindale of North York Moors National Park Authority.

"We urge visitors to use the special bus services or walk to the reservoir – in doing so we can make sure that everyone who visits the reservoir goes home safely."

The Partnership also hope to stop people swimming in the reservoir and ask them to respect the beauty spot that they are visiting by not leaving litter behind or lighting fires.