CHILDREN in Chipping Sodbury are being warned of the dangers of playing near quarries in a new appeal to protect their young lives.

Members of the Quarry Products Association across the country have reported a sharp rise in the numbers of youngsters seen climbing over fences to get into sites.

The warm weather and long summer holidays are being blamed for the worrying increase, which has sparked a fresh warning by the association.

Communications director Elizabeth Clements said: "The reality is that the youngsters concerned may face a number of hazards in an environment that is for work, not play.

"The dangers of falling or of being hit by falling rock are obvious. Other risks are less evident - inviting looking pools can be deep and desperately cold; sand stockpiles appear to be fun but are not the place to dig caves that can collapse."

Hanson Aggregates, on Wickwar Road, has not experienced huge problems so far this summer. However, bored and curious youngsters are still being reminded to stay away.

Spokesman David Weeks told the Gazette: "We have had the odd incident but it has not been a real problem, but there are still two to three weeks of summer holidays to go so I would appeal to parents in particular to find out if their children have been playing quarries.

"The problems we do have are at Barn Hill, the disused quarry just to the north of Chipping Sodbury's car park. There are big fences around it but kids do have a habit of climbing over or around them, especially at weekends.

"I would remind them that it is a dangerous hole with water at the bottom and if there was an accident when no-one was around, it would be very difficult to raise the alarm."

Quarries have long been seen as a playground by children looking for somewhere to climb and explore.

Ms Clements, however, said: "I would make an urgent appeal to parents across the region to ensure that their children are not endangering themselves by playing in their local quarries."