A FRESH warning has been issued over safety concerns at a West Devon beauty spot where danger lurks in the river waters.

For years, people have worried about thrill-seekers jumping off Denham Bridge into the River Tavy below.

But now local people have warned that it isn’t just a question of the leap itself that poses problems at the picturesque spot between the Bere peninsula and Buckland Monachorum.

Pete Silcock said: ‘Every time it rains fresh material is brought down river so that the scene changes more or less every day.’

Mr Silcock said he had become increasingly concerned after the arrival of the warm weather.

‘Youngsters have been ignoring warnings for years. Doing adventurous, silly things is part of growing up - but I do think we should underline the ever-changing dangers there,‘ he said.

James Murdoch, who lives nearby, agreed: ‘Debris washes down the river on a regular basis. When it’s in spate or there has been a storm we’ve seen objects like garden sheds and barbed wire fences.’

He felt a recent report in a national newspaper highlighting Denham Bridge as one of the country’s best locations for ‘wild swimming’ may encourage more people who don’t know the area’s dangers to visit.

‘I think the council has a great opportunity here to offer a great service to the community by putting up a small sign warning people of the hidden dangers of the rock ledges either side of the hole people jump into, and of river debris,’ said Mr Murdoch.

The Environment Agency says it has responsibility for rivers only where there is a flood risk.

Both West Devon Borough Council and Devon County Council say they have no responsibility for the issue.