A WARNING has been issued calling for people to stay out of quarries across the county, after reports of people swimming in Bangley Quarry, near Haddington.

The warning comes just days after a 28-year-old man died at a quarry in East Ayrshire.

Inspector Andy Harborow said: "Quarries present a number of hazards which can put the public in real danger.

“They are not intended to be used for recreation and I would urge our communities to avoid heading to these sites.

"As part of our summer patrols we will be giving such areas passing attention to deter people from entering them, but please help us keep you safe by using safer and better supervised swimming spots."

The water current is unpredictable and it is impossible to tell how deep the water is.

David Girrity, group manager at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is extremely important for us to get out there the message to the public about staying safe near the water.

“We want people to have an enjoyable summer and have fun, but safety is our top priority.

“What might start as a harmless dip can have tragic consequences if the proper advice isn’t followed.

"Although it might seem warm enough, open water can be very cold and cause cold water shock that can be deadly.

“It’s also often impossible to know what hazards lie below the surface of the water.

“We have a dedicated water safety section on our site at bit.ly/SFRSWaterSafety that I would urge everyone to take a look at.”