CALLS are being made for measures to prevent potentially fatal accidents to children jumping 20ft from a bridge into the River Test this summer.

Every year youngsters gather during the holidays to plunge into the shallow waters from Redbridge Causeway.

Police are inundated with calls from worried members of the public who fear a tragedy could happen.

Now David Harrison, a town and district councillor for Totton South, is urging civic chiefs to look at ways of making things safer.

He said these could include having supervisors on hand to ensure children are not hurt.

Police have said they could only warn young people of the perils but that their hands were tied because it was not a criminal offence.

Cllr Harrison said: "I am alarmed by the fact that authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the risk of youngsters drowning.

"Every summer you see kids, some younger than ten years old, leaping into the fast-moving waters from a great height.

"There is no supervision, not even a caring parent around.

"It could well be people in Millbrook Towers who can see what is happening can have a special hotline number to call during the summer when it happens.

"At the very least we should be looking at adult supervision to be on hand when kids start this activity, which could help to prevent a tragedy."

He is now asking for parents whose children have been injured jumping to get in contact with him so he can compile evidence of the problem.

Goff Beck, the district council's Cabinet member for crime and disorder, said he would look at investigating any areas that gave cause for concern about people's safety.

Anyone with details of incidents should call Cllr Harrison on 023 8086 4500 or e-mail him at david.harrison@nfdc.gov.uk