lunatic leapers

Police warned today that the youngsters were putting their lives are at risk and urged them to stop.

One alarmed motorist who spotted a lad leaping from the Temeside Way bridge at the Ketch thought he was witnessing a suicide attempt and stopped to offer help.

Youths were first spotted jumping off the bridge, which is around 50 feet above the summer water level, more than two months ago by the manager of the Ketch Caravan Park, Michael Gourlay.

"Since the children broke up from school, it's become more and more frequent," said Mr Gourlay. "This week, the same bunch of lads, who must be about 14 or 15, were doing it two days on the trot."

On Sunday, four youths, in their "mid teens", were spotted jumping from the bridge by passing motorist Michael Randall, of Kempsey.

"We were driving back from Malvern when my daughter saw one go over - we thought it might be a suicide, so we stopped the car and ran back," he said.

"When we saw they were okay, we moved on. But, personally, I think they're nuts."

Worcester police spokeswoman Vicki Davies warned of the dangers.

"The long summer holiday and recent hot spell makes messing about in water tempting, but the recent tragedy near Scunthorpe is a timely reminder about the dangers of cooling down in rivers and stretches of water," she said.

"Weeds, debris and undercurrents are hidden dangers that not only put bathers' lives at risk but also those called upon to rescue people who get into difficulty."

"It's summer madness," said Jane Eason from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. "Apart from the fact they don't know how deep the water is, or what lurks beneath the surface, it's also very cold. No matter what the weather, two inches below the surface the water's freezing and this can impair a person's swimming ability."

Worcestershire County Council bridge engineer John Frayne said a 3.5m security fence was being manufactured to prevent divers walking along the steel beams and jumping.