By Hayley Robinson

Youngsters wanting to cool off during the summer holidays are being warned they are putting themselves in danger by taking a dip in the Kemsley lakes.

Five youngsters aged 14 and 15 were recently caught splashing around in the waters at Church Marshes Country Park, which is accessed via Newman Drive.

Karen Gynne, secretary of the Kemsley Community Angling and Preservation Society, which runs the lakes, says it hopes to make an example of the culprits by prosecuting them as a warning to others who ignore the signs not to swim or dive in the lake.

She said: "This is a problem every year. We've checked with the council and it's in the by-laws that we can prosecute and we've been in contact with the police.

"The Church Marshes lake is 24ft deep and children under the age of 16 are not allowed near it unless they're accompanied by an adult.

"We don't know what's at the bottom of it and if they dive down towards the bottom they could get caught up in rubbish.

"We don't have lifeguards and the lifebuoys that are there are regularly vandalised or go missing.

"There's also a 35lb pike in the lake - and it bites."

Anglers who have caught the giant fish return it to the lake.

Ted Seagars from the society said arsonists had also destroyed a fishing stage next to the lake.

Ms Gynne added: "The lake in Newman Drive is only 14ft deep and people are always chucking stuff in it. Last year we found a 42in flat-screen TV, a safe with old foreign notes in it and 11 ivory figurines - all of which we handed over to the police."

Swimming and dumping are not the only problem. People are also fishing in the lakes without a licence. Ms Gynne said: "People can fish at both lakes as long as they have a licence and they pay for a day ticket, which is £2 per rod and available from the warden who visits the lakes every day.

"We've got a good thing going with the Environment Agency and the local police community support officer, who are helping us police the area by coming down on a regular basis."

A police spokesman said: "The youths were given a warning notice asking them to leave the area.

"The police have spoken with the fishing club about how to obtain the youths' details to continue with a civil prosecution."