YOUNGSTERS have been warned against the dangers of swimming and cycling at the Cemex quarry in Rochester Road, Aylesford.

Police say young people are repeatedly damaging fencing at the site to use off road cycles on the rough terrain and swim in the freezing water of the deep quarry lakes.

Since the start of May police have received five reports of criminal damage or theft of padlocks at the site.

They attribute the trend to the onset of warm, light evenings and admit the lakes are an attractive proposition on a summer's day.

PC Becky Ballard said: "Cemex’s site is not a summer playground. It’s dangerous and parents shouldn’t let their children play or swim there."

But she added: "I can understand why you’d want to be there, because on a summer’s day it looks beautiful and the water is very inviting. But this isn’t a country park, it’s an industrial site, anyone going there is trespassing and putting themselves in danger."

Police are stepping up patrols and working with Cemex to improve security, but say they cannot be there all the time; it's up to youngsters to be responsible and heed their warnings.