THRILL-SEEKERS were today warned they were dicing with death after being caught swimming in open water across East Lancashire in the wake of a tragic drowning.

The body of Mitchell Bury, 33, was recovered by police divers yesterday afternoon -- two days after disappearing while trying to swim across the Wayoh Reservoir, near Edgworth, after a night out with friends. But despite repeated warnings about the dangers of swimming in reservoirs, lakes and canals, it was today revealed that people were still seen putting their lives at risk while the search for Mitchell's body was being carried out.

Today police issued a graphic description of how swimming in cold water can lead to death in a bid to prevent another drowning.

And Glynn Haworth, United Utilities' countryside ranger for East Lancashire, including Wayoh Reservoir, revealed that he had been threatened while trying to warn people of the danger in the last two days.

He caught a group of youngsters on film playing just a few miles away from the scene of the drowning, in Holden Wood reservoir, off the Grane Road, Haslingden, on Monday afternoon.

Police divers, who had carried out painstaking fingertip searches in the dark water, said the body of Mitchell, who lived alone in Nuttall Street, Ewood, was found seven metres down. His family watched as he was recovered at 3.20pm.

Inspector David Griffin, in charge of the joint Lancashire and Cheshire Underwater Search Unit, whose team of divers recovered the body, said: "In hot weather people are often tempted to cool off in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and even canals, sometimes with tragic consequences. "The waters in and around the UK are extremely cold whatever the weather. One metre down they are likely to be just above freezing whatever the temperature outside. These conditions quickly chill the body causing blood to be drawn from the extremities to sustain vital organs. This soon results in paralysis of the limbs followed by sinking. Cold water then enters the lungs and drowning is inevitable. Even the strongest of swimmer is vulnerable to this chain of events. We all want good weather this summer but I would say be safe and stay out of the water."

Mr Haworth said that, despite the tragedy and repeated warnings throughout the summer, swimmers were still going to 14 of East Lancashire's reservoirs.

He said: "I get calls every day telling me there are people in the water. At the weekends I can be called to one of the reservoirs two or three times a day. It is mainly lads swimming while their girlfriends sit and watch. It is madness; they are putting their lives at risk.

"Water is being pumped in all the time as part of the treatment process so there are strong undercurrents. There are also obstacles like branches or reeds. I have seen youngsters swimming through thick blue-green algae.

"When I told them to get out this week I got abuse and was even threatened with violence . It is happening all across East Lancashire. There are warning signs everywhere but they are being ignored."

A spokesman for North West Water, which owns the Wayoh Reservoir, said: "This tragedy serves to highlight just how dangerous reservoirs can be.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said 320 people drown in open waters every year.