With the school summer holidays set to begin Birmingham City Council has warned people of the dangers of cooling off in ponds and lakes across the city.

Keepers Pool Sutton Park

As parks staff brace themselves for the busiest period of the year, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Cllr Martin Mullaney, has urged residents to stay out of the water and play safe this summer.  “It may seem like a good idea when the sun is shining but water that looks inviting on the surface may have hidden dangers underneath. Also, water can be a lot colder than expected. Our ponds and lakes aren’t like swimming pools. They can be extremely dangerous places and people can die.

“We have swimming pools across Birmingham where people can swim safely and in a number of cases free of charge, so the message is to stay out of the water and stay safe.”

Park Rangers have also urged residents not to misuse lifebelts in parks, so they are readily available for emergencies. If the public see or are aware of missing life saving equipment, they should contact Birmingham’s Parks on 0121 454 7810.