WE understand young people being in high spirits. Summer is here, the weather is great and Yorkshire’s rivers can look wonderfully tempting.

Today, we carry a series of photographs showing young people jumping into the River Derwent at Kirkham Priory . They were leaping into the water from the river bank, some turning somersaults as they did so. In one case, a swimmer climbed on to the roof of a van to gain extra height.

Young people – and plenty of older ones too – have enjoyed cooling off in rivers ever since there have been rivers to cool off in. We know we risk sounding like bores by warning about the dangers. But we have to nevertheless.

In York this year alone, four people have died in the Rivers Ouse and Foss. Others have got into difficulties by jumping in – often after having had too much to drink.

North Yorkshire Police today repeated warnings about the dangers of jumping into open water on hot days. Fast currents, waterborne diseases, the sudden shock of plunging into icy water – all pose a risk. Then there is a danger of something hidden beneath the surface. Imagine diving in only to crack your head on a submerged rock, or to tear open your leg on a stick buried in the mud of the riverbed.

There is a long summer ahead. The last thing we want is for our rivers to claim yet more young lives. So to parents and young people alike, we say: please, please be careful – and be aware of the dangers.