Police say they have have recently received reports from people about children swimming with their parents at Eye Green Local Nature Reserve – the scene of a tragic drowning six years ago

Police community support officer (PCSO) Elaine Buddle said she is concerned about visitors who may be unaware of the dangers the picturesque lake hides at the popular visitor attraction

PCSO Buddle said: "We don't think it is local people, as they know of the dangers, but day visitors. I have had reports of parents taking their little ones in the water.

"The lake does look lovely and inviting, but it is, in fact, very dangerous with deep water and a strong undercurrent. It is dangerously deceptive, as there is a ledge that suddenly drops."

Community leaders joined forces with the police to implore parents to alert their children to the dangers of swimming in the lake, which claimed the life of 18-year-old boxing champion Freddie Holmes, from Eye, near Peterborough, who drowned there in 2002.

Eye Parish Council member Brenda Stanojevic said: "It's a lovely area, and we don't want another tragedy. The signs are up and the PCSOs and wardens are about at different times to warn people what people can and can't do. If warnings stop at least one person, then it will be worth it."

Eye and Thorney councillor David Sanders said the community wanted families to experience the wonderful things the site had to offer other than taking a dip.

He said: "We want children to enjoy the nature reserve, but it is not a swimming pool. We urge parents to be aware of where their children are during the summer holidays."

The reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust, which advises visitors to take note of the bylaws in place, which include amongst others no swimming, no boating, no diving and no fires.

Community wildlife officer Rachel Price added: "All the bylaws are in place simply to keep all site users safe, and some to protect the wildlife for which the site is so important. The lake, created through clay extraction, is up to 25 metres deep and due to shelving and temperature differences there are undercurrents which can be extremely dangerous."

The site at Eye Green was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1996 because of the wildlife it supports and to act as a wildlife-rich green space for local people to enjoy and they urge people to come along and visit.

Miss Price added: "It is a wonderful site with a large picturesque lake, fringed in places by reeds, or bushes. In the shallow water of the lake's inlets are dense beds of reedmace and common reed which provide cover for water birds such as coot and moorhen, and support a wide range of invertebrates.

"It is a great place to relax and unwind and escape the city."

nFor more information about the reserves, visit www. wildlifebcnp.org