'Talk to young people about the danger of open water'

Parents should warn their children about the dangers of open water as temperatures soar, a fire and rescue service has said.

Frank Long, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service's group manager for risk and intelligence, said "even the most benign environments can be really risky".

At least 18 people have died in the UK after getting into difficulty in water over recent months, many of them teenagers. More than 40 schools in the county are closing early or have shut completely because of the high temperatures.

All of Berkshire, along with the south and south-east, is currently under a red weather warning for extreme heat until 23:59 BST on Thursday.

"Tragically, as we've seen over recent weeks, naturally people look for a place to cool off. Rivers and streams can be really appealing," Long said.

"I think what people don't realise is just how powerful and relentless water can be. Even the most benign environments can be really, really risky.

"Talk to the young people in your lives. Make them aware of the risk, make them aware of the dangers.

"With water-related fatalities and incidents it's often young people and the tragedy of how avoidable it is can really hit home to us."