PARENTS are being urged to warn their children about the dangers of swimming in a Hartlepool reservoir.
Police and water company officials fear children will be drawn to Hart Reservoir during spells of warm weather.
PC Jim Blackwell, of Hartlepool police, said: "The reservoir may look like a nice safe place to swim, but the water is much colder beneath the surface than you think.
"Submerged objects such as trees, branches and rocks can also be very dangerous and, while the water may look calm, wind will cause choppy waves that make it far too dangerous to swim."
Kevin Ensell, of Hartlepool Water, said: "The signs we have placed around the perimeter clearly show the dangers of swimming. Hart Reservoir provides water for one of our key customers in Hartlepool who draw lots of water from the site.
"Swimmers will not see the strong undercurrents leading to the outlet pipe before it's too late. All parents living near the site must warn their children to stay away."
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