LAST year, during a two-month period of unusually warm weather, six people drowned in former quarry lakes across the UK.

Quarry operators know that the warmer weather heralds an increase in young people and adults entering quarries uninvited with potentially tragic consequences. This has been reinforced by two fatalities in quarry lakes and a serious injury following a fall from a quarry rock face this year.

We are keen to ensure that these risks are better understood and to appeal to parents to ensure that their youngsters are not tempted to enter local quarries uninvited.

Our Stay Safe campaign is supported by the parents of teenagers who have died in quarry accidents. They believe that their children might still be alive today if they had understood the risks.

Quarry lakes or reservoirs may look inviting but the temperature of the water can be icy cold, extremely deep and conceal unexpected hazards such as currents, pumps, weeds or obstacles beneath the water.

The impact that cold water can have on the body can result in even very experienced swimmers suddenly finding themselves in trouble and the water can be difficult to exit.

Please stay safe, stay out of quarries.

Elizabeth Clements, Mineral Products Association, London