POLICE have issued a warning to thrill-seeking youths who risk their lives by jumping off bridges into dangerously shallow water.

As the weather warms up, police have already been responding to several calls from worried members of the public who have seen groups of youngsters plunging into the water from a Southampton bridge.

The Redbridge Causeway road and railway bridges have become a notorious meeting place for large group of youths who throw themselves off into the water some 30ft below.

In the past few days British Transport Police has responded to three separate incidents involving groups of youths at Redbridge.

Sgt Andrew Pavitt said: "We have started to receive the calls with the warm weather of large groups of youths, near to the tracks on the bridge.

"Clearly they are risking their safety, particularly if they are wet and walking near to electrified lines.

"All we can do is go and speak to them and tell them about the risks but they do keep coming back."

Strong currents Last July the Daily Echo reported how a 15-year-old boy had to be rescued by coastguards after struggling against strong currents when he jumped from the bridge.

Despite the warning youths were once again jumping off the bridge less than 24 hours later.

Now police are issuing a warning to parents to keep an eye on their children during the summer months.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "There is nothing criminal about what they are doing so our powers are limited. We can only respond to any calls of concern we receive.

"We would urge a large degree of parental responsibility on the matter as it is about educating these young people of the dangers involved in jumping into water, the depth and current of which could be highly dangerous.

"We would like to put out a plea to parents and the young people involved not to do this as we don't want to be in the situation where we are responding to an incident involving one of them in difficulty."

The Daily Echo reported last week how councillors in Bursledon are considering imposing a by-law at a railway bridge across the Hamble River in the hope of deterring youngsters from jumping off it.