A RESIDENT has hit out at what he describes as a lack of adequate 'no swimming' signs at a scenic reservoir on the edge of Oxenhope.

Leeming resident Harry Lingard, 63, said that when he raised the matter with owners of Leeming Reservoir, he was told there was proper signage on site, even though he claims this is not the case.

"Rather than taking my concerns seriously, Yorkshire Water has gone into denial," he said. "I've lived here for more than ten years and must have walked round that reservoir a couple of hundred times.

"The only 'no swimming' sign I can see at the reservoir is nowhere near where the kids actually go swimming. It's faded, high up on a bank and behind a locked gate, where the public doesn't have access anyway.

"It's completely inadequate, but Yorkshire Water doesn't seem to be interested."

A Yorkshire Water spokesman responded that the company is aware of Mr Lingard's complaint, and was due to inspect the reservoir yesterday.

Mr Lingard, who is a company secretary, said he fears a serious accident could occur if children continue swimming in the reservoir, with incidents increasing during the summer holidays.

Mr Lingard said he also asked whether the company would be prepared to locate life-saving equipment at the reservoir to help cover any emergency, but was told this is not something Yorkshire Water would do.

"I'm not looking for anything out of this apart from helping to ensure other people's safety," he added.

"It would be nice to have proper signs up there before we have a tragedy, rather than for the tragedy to happen and then steps are taken afterwards with the benefit of hindsight."

The Yorkshire Water spokesman added: "We take reservoir water safety very seriously indeed and regularly highlight the potentially deadly risks of swimming in them in talks with schools.

"Our message is 'Cold Water Kills' and to not swim in our reservoirs during the summer holidays, or at any other time under any circumstance.

"Even on a warm day, the temperature in them can be as low as 12°C, which can cause the body to go into cold water shock mode."

Visit youtube.com/watch?v=Ile-FwNEafk to view Yorkshire Water's safety video.