Watch: Children urged to stay safe around Shropshire's water this summer

But summer can bring risks – with many children suddenly finding themselves presented with more spare time than they know what to do with.

The dangers are many, with numerous accidents reported across Shropshire every summer. The River Severn has long been identified as a blackspot, but rescues have been performed at several other sites in the county over the years.

Meanwhile police have warned that children are more likely to get involved in crime during the summer than at other times of the year.

It all amounts to a quandary for parents and carers who want their youngsters to enjoy their summer break, but also to stay safe.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) says children are more at risk of injury during the holidays than at any other time of the year.

David Walker, head of leisure safety at Rospa, says: "Summer is a great time for children to get out and experience the world around them.

"During the summer months, we see a rise in injuries associated with play and leisure activities.

"You need to be aware of safely issues, but this isn't a reason to stop children enjoying activities. In many cases, simple steps can be taken to avoid injury."

The society has produced guidelines advising parents how best to keep their children safe during the summer. It recommends checking out new environments to make sure they do not contain features that pose a threat to youngsters.

Water is considered a major danger during the summer months.

Last year, nine-year-old Christopher Reynolds was plucked from the River Teme at Ludlow after getting into trouble. The youngster, from Leominster, had entered a seemingly harmless part of the water, but was carried downstream.

Days earlier, a 15-year-old boy was described as "lucky to be alive" after being pulled from a quarry pool in Telford. The teenager, who was not named, coughed up three pints of dirty water after being rescued from Blue Pool, off Randlay Avenue, by a fisherman. Disturbingly, the other children refused to leave the water and continued to swim.

The NSPCC has told parents that leaving children at home alone in the summer holidays could result in 'serious consequences'.

The charity said many youngsters were at risk of harm during the 'peak season' for being left alone, and urged parents to think before they go out. Figures from 2014 show that children as young as one were left at home by parents.

The NSPCC received 916 calls involving unsupervised children in June, July and August, 723 of which were referred to police or children's services. Sandra McNair, the charity's regional head of services for children and families in the Midlands, said: "The summer school break can be great for kids, but it's also a time when they might be left alone for long periods. Many parents can't stay at home all day with their children during the holidays, and this is when problems can arise. Leaving young children by themselves can put them at risk of harm. It might seem an easy option but it could result in serious consequences."

Over the past 12 months 2,489 such cases were brought to the charity's attention, and 1,883 incidents involving 3,610 children were passed on to care services. Of those referred, around 35 per cent involved children aged between one and five.

There is no set age for leaving a child alone, but the law states there should be no risk of harm to the child. The NSPCC said they believed parents should never leave a baby or young child alone, and older children should only be left if they are mature enough and for short periods of time. Issues to consider before leaving a child at home on their own include whether they would be able to make something to eat or drink and if they would known what to do if someone came to the door.

The NSPCC has said babies and young children should never be left alone. "Even if they're sleeping peacefully when you leave they could well wake up and get very upset when you're not there to look after them."

Those under 16 should only be left alone if they feel comfortable and they should always know how to contact an adult or the emergency services. Those under 16 should not be left alone overnight.

To highlight the dangers, West Midlands Ambulance Service has made a safety film, featuring the River Severn at Jackfield, near Ironbridge, which has been highlighted as a particular danger spot.

The film shows paramedics training in the fast-running water, showing how even in full safety equipment it is a struggle for them to battle the current.

The service's water safety expert John Woodhall urges people to stay out of rivers.

"Don't swim in them, they are dangerous places," he says.

He said crews have been called several times to the river at Jackfield.

"We have been to numerous incidents at this stretch of river itself to people that have fallen in, to people who have been swept down the river.

"The last thing we want to do is come out to any dangers again, we just urge the public to stay out of the river."

Emergency services have also voiced concerns that people do not know the full dangers of swimming in open water such as reservoirs, pools, lakes, quarries and canals, during hot weather to cool down. As well as being deeper and colder then at first sight, discarded machinery, waste and needles also present a danger.

In the past, people have also been seen jumping from the bridge by the boat house on the River Severn at Shrewsbury, close to where there was a fatality in 2013.

Quarry lakes can also be highly dangerous, with hidden rocks and extremely cold temperatures beneath the apparently inviting surface. Last year 19-year-old Alec Lightfoot drowned at a pool at the former Trentham Quarry in Ashley, near Market Drayton.

Superintendent Mark Travis, of West Mercia Police, said it was vital that parents made sure their children were not tempted to enter unsupervised waters during the summer months.

And he says the waters can prove deadly to even the strongest swimmers.

"There is also a misconception that drowning tragedies usually involve people who are poor swimmers," he says.

"In fact the shock of sudden cold water immersion or inhalation can cause instant death due to a condition known as vagal inhibition or 'reflex cardiac arrest'.

"This has been attributed as a cause of cold water deaths and can affect the strongest of swimmers and the fittest of people."

He added that a sudden attack of cramp due to the cold was another potential killer that could affect anyone.

"It might be very inviting in warm weather but swimming in unauthorised and unsupervised stretches of river or other open water is fraught with danger," he said.

"The deaths we have experienced are a stark illustration of just how hazardous it can be.

"A hot spell usually results in some youngsters making a beeline for stretches of open water and they need to be aware of the risks. "

Mr Travis says it is often impossible to gauge the depth of the waters or the strength of the current.

"Where water levels are unknown, jumping or diving in can cause serious injury or drowning, especially if there are submerged rocks, weeds or other debris."

He adds that banks at the side of rivers and pools could also add to the danger when they become slippery, making it difficult for people to get back out of the water.

Mr Travis urges parents to ensure their children are educated about the dangers, and are aware of where their youngsters are playing when out of sight.

He said: "We don't want to appear to be killjoys but people need to be encouraged to stay safe – we really don't want any more fatalities.

"Unless there is adequate supervision and rescue cover our advice would be not to get into open water in the first place and if you need to cool off head for a public swimming pool instead."

The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has urged children to only use sites that are designated for swimming when they decide to take a dip.

Mike Dunn, director of volunteer and community education at the RLSS, says: "The unsuitable sites included rivers, quarries, lakes and reservoirs – all of which have many dangers including very cold water, currents, obstacles and uneven depths.

"They look so inviting but can be deadly. Being aware of the basic principles of open water safety, combined with knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can increase enjoyment and significantly reduce the number deaths each year.

"Any drowning is a tragedy but the number of people who lost their lives last summer was not only extremely sad but extremely worrying."