CHILDREN have been dicing with death by playing on a frozen York lake – and throwing rocks at the ice they were standing on.

Press reader Jason Steel took pictures on Sunday of two youngsters walking over the frozen Rawcliffe Lake near Clifton Moor – on the same day as a man died after falling through ice on a lake in the south east.

He said: “The images show a tragedy waiting to happen. Two young adults perilously cross Rawcliffe Lake while trying to smash the ice they stand on with rocks. Signs all around the lake warn of deep water, yet all the while these two dice with death by sliding from one side to another.”

When Press photographer Nigel Holland visited the lake yesterday he found teenagers playing on the lake and using a lifebuoy as a sledge. Seven years ago, two teenagers nearly drowned after falling through ice on the lake, and police and local community leaders today called on local parents to drive the safety message home to their children.

Richard Moore, councillor for the area, said: “Every year we seem to have some children who don’t think about the hazards of playing on the ice.

“It is fortunate that we have never had a fatality on the lake. There are signs saying ‘No Bathing’ which are there for a good reason, and it is extremely irresponsible to chance falling through and putting not only the life of the individual at risk but also the lives of those emergency services or local residents who have to respond.

“I would ask all parents to emphasise to their children that they should keep off the ice.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the youngsters in the photograph were “literally dicing with death”. He said: “The current weather conditions are dangerous enough without people taking these extreme and foolish risks that could so easily end in tragedy.

“The simple advice is to keep away from frozen water full stop. We urge parents to drum this safety message into their children before it is too late.”