A CAMPAIGN to prevent children swimming in dangerous waters is to be launched almost a year to the day after a Blackburn student drowned in a local reservoir.

Jonathan Ashebu, 16, of Lytham Road, Blackburn, died on July 30 last year after trying to swim across Fishmoor Reservoir to cool off.

His family and friends have since issued an appeal for parents to stop their children swimming in waterways.

Now the Health and Safety Executive has launched an initiative to highlight the similar dangers of children swimming in quarry lagoons.

The scheme will be launched at a quarry near Samlesbury on Thursday, in time for the school summer holidays.

Four children have drowned in quarry lagoons in Britain so far this year and Jonathan's death highlighted the fact that the risks are not confined to small youngsters.

The Health and Safety Executive are warning people of the hazards and advising parents to ban their children from dangerous waterways.

A spokesman said: "With four children having already drowned in quarry lagoons in Britain this year, parents will be advised to ensure children swim in suitable places under qualified supervision." An inquest into Jonathan's death returned a verdict of accidental death after hearing that he probably suffered from an attack of cramp.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.