Devizes Town Council have warned people to avoid walking on the Crammer in icy conditions.

The warning comes just days after four boys died when they fell into the icy lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull on Sunday, December 11.

The Crammer is normally one of the town’s most picturesque locations, but Town Clerk Simon Fisher has urged people not to try walking on the ice during winter.

He said: “People must be careful around any body of water whether that’s the Crammer or the canal which is also very icy.

“Just don’t go out onto the ice. I know it’s tempting and it looks fun but never go onto it. The Crammer isn’t very deep but it’s very muddy and cold.”

The warning echoes the words of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, which this week reminded people they should never venture onto frozen water or wander too near the edge.

Town council officials were breaking up the ice with specialist equipment to help free trapped birds on Thursday, December 15, but Mr Fisher warned that people must not follow suit.

“We broke up a lot of the ice today because there were some birds stuck in it”, he added.

“But our guys can go out on the ice because they have the right equipment.”