POLICE today warned people to take care near East Lancashire's frozen waterways and reservoirs following four deaths in two separate tragic drowning accidents.

And today fears were raised that iced-over water surfaces in the region could become even more of a potential danger as temperatures began to rise.

Three people, an 11-year-old girl and two would-be rescuers, died after vanishing through ice at Hemsworth Water, near Kinsley, West Yorkshire.

The men, one of whom was an off-duty South Yorkshire fire officer, laid a piece of tarpaulin over the ice to spread their weights but the safety measure failed and they plunged into the water.

And on Wednesday a man died trying to save a dog which had fallen through ice at Andover, Hampshire.

Postman Robert Giles, 25, plunged through ice while attempting to reach his Highland Terrier Mikey. He was revived after being trapped for 30 minutes but doctors lost their battle to save his life.

Today a Lancashire police spokesman said the tragedies should make people think even harder before taking risks.

Inspector Stuart Caley, of Blackburn Police, said there had been numerous complaints of children playing on frozen canals, particularly in the Whitebirk area.

"We would like to warn parents to advise their children of the dangers," he said.

"The ice is not thick enough to sustain even a child's weight.

"And we would hate any tragedy to happen here similar to those that have happened elsewhere in the country."

Weathermen predicted that temperatures would fall today weakening ice and bringing an increased chance of snow across the region.

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