SCOTTISH Water is reminding people to play it safe in or near rivers, reservoirs and lochs this summer.

Following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy at a reservoir near Edinburgh earlier this month, people are once again being advised not to take risks around watercourses and calling on children in particular to take care near water during the summer holidays and any spells of warm weather we might enjoy.

Figures from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) show that in 2012, 371 people drowned accidentally across the UK, of which 43 included children and young people up to the age of 19.     Of the 371 drownings, the majority - 203 (55 per cent) - took place in inland waters including rivers, canals, lochs/lakes, streams, ponds and reservoirs.

Mark Maclaren, one of Scottish Water’s regional communities team managers, said: “While it’s important that youngsters enjoy their school holidays and that people across Scotland take pleasure in the country’s beautiful lochs, rivers and reservoirs, it’s also vital that they stay safe.

“We are reminding parents to keep their children safe and asking people to act responsibly around watercourses.” If anyone would like more information they can contact our Scottish Water’s customer helpline on 0845 601 8855 or www.scottishwater.co.uk/takecare. For more information on RoSPA visit their website at www.rospa.com.

Scottish Water is one of 10 partners involved in the Go Safe Scotland online education resource www.gosafescotland.com that has been developed to provide young people in Scotland with a variety of key safety messages, one of which is water safety.