Quarries danger warning

A new campaign launched this week urges youngsters tempted by the prospect of a rock-climbing trip to avoid risking their lives by trespassing on potentially-unsafe sites.

Up to half of quarry owners in Yorkshire and Humberside said that they had a problem with trespassing.

With 112 active quarries producing over 12 million tonnes of aggregates per year, the region is a key focus of the Mineral Products Association's (MPA) Stay Safe campaign.

Teenagers are the age group that cause the industry most concern and the campaign particularly focuses on helping young people to better understand the dangers, including ice-cold water, steep cliffs, falling rocks and quicksand pools, associated with trespassing and the tragic consequences it may have for their friends and family.

A spokesman said: “The Stay Safe campaign also hits out at irresponsible adults who fail to recognise that their own trespassing leaves holes in fences for children to gain access and at those who post material on the web encouraging people to trespass.

“It was particularly disappointing to find that at sites experiencing trespassing problems, two thirds of the managers reported that this included people over the age of 25.”

Elizabeth Clements of the MPA added: “Adults who enter quarries while walking, dog walking or out of general curiosity may not appreciate that they are not simply putting themselves at risk.

“They are also setting a bad example to younger people and leaving holes in fences which put them at serious risk.

“Our message is unless you are invited on an organised visit by a quarry operator, stay safe by staying out of quarries.”