DRINKERS are being warned about the dangers of jumping into rivers to cool off during the summer.

Police say they would be putting themselves and the lives of emergency staff at risk.

The warning follows the arrest of a man in Worces-ter's Bridge Street on Friday, June 10, after a police officer had to enter the river after seeing him in the water.

"The man in the river who, by his own admission had consumed 15 pints of beer, was removed from the water by an officer who had to put his own life at risk by entering the water," said a city police spokesman.

"Anyone who thinks it is sensible to jump or even walk into a cold, fast-flowing river whether drunk or sober should think again.

"Not only about their own safety, but also that of others who may have to go to their aid and risk their lives."

Roger Vincent, a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said in Worcester-shire, provisional figures for 2004 showed that four people drowned in rivers.

None of these was from people jumping in.

In 2003, five people drowned in rivers, but only one involved a person jumping in.

On Wednesday, June 25, 21-year-old trainee structural engineer Lee Muldowney, of Bankside, Dilwyn, near Leominster, died after jumping into the River Severn from the Worcester Bridge just as the crowds were leaving Worcestershire's cricket match against South Africa.

The River Teme is also a popular cooling-off spot for over-excited drinkers.

Mr Vincent said: "Just because people see others swimming at a place that used to be a popular swimming spot doesn't mean it's safe.

"What we would say is only swim at a properly supervised swimming pool or a properly supervised beach."