YOUNGSTERS have been warned they are risking injury following reports of teenagers jumping into Dunbar Harbour when boats are in use.

The town’s community council heard on Monday evening that there had been “a number of issues” at the harbour in recent weeks.

Police Constable Gavin Ross said these had included “theft from boats, damage to boats and in the last fortnight a number of complaints regarding youths jumping into the harbour in a dangerous manner, including swimming close to turning propellers”.

The police officer, along with the town’s harbourmaster and community warden, visited the town’s secondary school last summer to warn of the dangers at the harbour.

PC Ross felt that had proved “a great success”, with no issues last summer, and such visits could now be repeated.

Alasdair Swan, chairman of Dunbar Harbour Trust, told the Courier: “There have been a number of incidents like this. The difficulty from our point of view is identifying who the culprits are, which is not always easy. We don’t take the matter lightly.

“Our harbourmaster supported what Constable Gavin Ross said, that last year he had taken part with the officer in approaching the schools before the summer session.

“That appeared to have a good impact, so he has suggested that they reinstate that for next year.”