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POLICE and the IW Council have renewed a safety warning following reports of children skating on the frozen Somerton Reservoir in Cowes and other reports of youngsters sledging in dangerous locations.
Police were called to the reservoir off Newport Road on Saturday morning and while there were no children at the scene there were footprints in the ice indicating that people had been walking across the frozen water there recently.
Inspector Colin Hall said: "Officers are also responding to reports of children sledging on slopes near rivers. There have been no reports of injuries, but police are reminding parents and children to thoroughly check locations where they are thinking of sledging to ensure it is safe to do so.
“Safer Neighbourhoods officers with specific local knowledge will continue patrolling areas on the island where there are potential risks to people skating and sledging."
Concerns for people's welfare in the adverse weather can be reported to the police by phoning 101. Phone 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
Stuart Love, IW Council director responsible for the environment, said: “It should go without saying that skating on ice above a deep, sheer-sided reservoir is extremely dangerous. I would urge anyone who sees this activity taking place to report it immediately.
“There are plenty of ways of enjoying the conditions safely without putting your lives – and the lives of others – at risk by hazardous activities such as skating on frozen water or by sledging in dangerous locations.”
