Teens risk lives in 30ft bridge plunge

Children as young as 11 and 12 are joining teenagers in death-defying 30ft leaps into a Lincolnshire river.

Horrified residents living near Gainsborough's Trent Bridge have made a series of 999 calls to police.

And they have demanded action to avert a tragedy as the young men and boys have carried on with their fearless activities despite warnings.

Drivers waiting on the bridge for traffic lights to change during the heatwave have been doing double-takes.

Young people who are apparently crossing the bridge have jumped over the barriers into the cooling waters below.

Keith Blyth, manager of the 60 Granary Wharf luxury flats in Bridge Street overlooking the Trent, rang the police emergency number.

"I've had lots of complaints from really worried residents who have seen lots of young people jumping into the river," said Mr Blyth.

"We watched as one boy really struggled to get to the opposite bank. He nearly didn't make it."

Gainsborough police spokesman Jemma Peacock confirmed that officers had been called to the river following calls from concerned witnesses.

"When police went to the River Trent on Tuesday night there were six young people at the scene – the youngest spoken to was 13," she said.

"They were all given very strong words of advice because it is incredibly dangerous to jump into the river.

"We also want parents to be aware that there are children under 16 involved."

For more on this story, including interviews with the jumpers, see Friday's Echo.