A WORRIED woman who has witnessed children swimming in the city's canal has warned of the risks amid the warm weather.

Kim Neale, who lives adjacent to Bilford Top Lock, has stressed the importance of staying out of the canal.

She fears for youngsters' safety after seeing children cool off in the canal water unaware of the dangers which lie beneath the water.

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She said: "Two years back, there was an incident where kids were actually using the bottom lock as a pool and I am very aware that the warm weather could tempt people to do this gain.

"It is also dangerous swimming in this water for multiple reasons, and it would be easy to get caught in the undertow.

"There is also around just two feet of water underneath the surface, and although children jumping over the locks and walking across the sides of the bridge has quietened down from what it used to, it it still occasionally happens."

Mrs Neale also said she has seen rubbish and rats while walking along the canal which people would be swimming in if they jumped in.

She said: "I am not sure people know just how dirty the canal is. 

"At parts of the canal, I have seen rats swimming across and various amounts of litter floating across the top.

"I have also seen magnet fishers pull out all sorts, including a car battery recently.

"Around the top lock, we do quite a good job at keeping the area clean and I regularly pick the area myself.

"We want to make sure the area is being kept nice and to do that we need to ensure that litter is kept out of the canal.

"it is also important to ensure this as the canal flows directly into the River Severn."

Worcester News: Mrs Neale has seen rats swimming across the canal.Mrs Neale has seen rats swimming across the canal. (Image: Newsquest)

The Canal and River Trust, the national charity which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales, said 60 per cent of the accidental water-related deaths in 2022 happened in inland waters.

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Anne Gardner-Aston, director of health and safety at the Canal & River Trust said: "The water often isn’t clear, you won’t be able to see the depth or any obstacles in the water, and even on a hot day the water can be extremely cold.

"Jumping into rivers or canals from bridges is extremely risky and can cause nasty, and sometimes fatal, injuries.

“Please don’t swim or jump into canals, reservoirs and rivers. It’s not worth the risk."