YOUNG people have been urged to 'not risk life and limb' by playing near a quarry, a construction company warns.

Dozens of young people and children have been spotted playing near Jamestone Quarry in Haslingden.

Eyewitnesses have seen people diving off the top of the quarry face in Grane Road and plunging 30 feet deep into bitterly cold water.

Roy Taylor, of W Maher and Sons LTD, which owns the quarry, has visited several schools in East Lancashire to hand out safety posters warning of the risks.

He has distributed around 1,900 leaflets and 300 posters in a bid to warn youngsters going near deep water.

Mr Taylor said teenagers have been spotted 'tombstoning' into the quarry.

He said: "People don't know the risks when they dive into a quarry.

"It may be nice and warm outside, which is why we have put these warnings out, but the water is extremely cold.

"We've seen groups of 30, 40 and 50 people going into the quarry.

"They're diving into waters they don't know, there could be rocks under there, it could be too shallow to dive in at that specific point.

"Someone is going to seriously hurt themselves, risking life and limb, or worse if they keep going there."

Rebecca Ramsay, from Chorley, who lost her son Dylan, 13, when he went for a drip with two friends at Hill Top Quarry in Whittle-le-Woods in July 2011, has launched an online petition to try and warn teenagers about water safety.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph in March, Mrs Ramsay 'Water safety/drowning prevention and effects of cold water to be taught in schools' to mark what would have been Julian's 21st birthday in October.

The petition has reached more than 2,700 signatures and needs to reach 10,000 before it can be handed to the government.

A United Utilities spokesman said: "We have 180 reservoirs across the North West, many in beautiful locations. We’d love you to visit your local site, but please, stay out of the water.

"Reservoirs may look inviting, especially on a hot day, but they are about the worst possible places to take a swim.

"The freezing cold water can numb your limbs, while hidden currents and machinery can drag you under. Even the strongest swimmers can quickly get into difficulty."