Fire safety crews are warning people to steer clear of a deceptively dangerous river ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service safety instructor Chris Kendall took to the water at Yalding weir, and had a stark warning for any families visiting.

He said: "I don't think a child could survive in that situation, I think they'd be very lucky.

"With the depth, the force of water and the quantity hitting them, I just think they'd be swept away."

Yalding weir is a hotspot for water rescues.

Last month a group of children avoided disaster after the sluice gates opened and the calm water turned to a raging torrent.

Mr Kendall recreated the scene in full protective kit, facing a flow of 10 tonnes per second.

Speaking afterwards he said: "Even with all my training and skills in water, I couldn’t stay on my feet when the sluice gates opened.

"The water hit me with quite a force and became much deeper very quickly - I don’t think many people, especially children, would be able to save themselves in those conditions.

"I was wearing full kit to stay protected and afloat and I’m trained to know how to react to all sorts of water conditions, and I couldn’t stop myself from being washed away.

"Without a personal floatation devise on, I probably would have been pushed under the water due to the hidden currents, and I could have been sent down a much more dangerous route if I didn’t have the skill to steer myself.

"My advice to anyone considering entering the water at Yalding weir this bank holiday weekend, or at any time, is don’t risk it and stay out – it’s not a swimming pool."