THESE children were dicing with death as they enjoyed the hot weather in Huddersfield.

The youngsters were spotted playing above the overflow at Digley reservoir – having climbed under a fence and ignored a danger sign.

Their antics – captured by a concerned woman visiting the Holmfirth beauty spot – brought a concerned response from Yorkshire Water.

Temperatures reached 21 deg C for a second day running in Huddersfield yesterday and more warm weather is forecast for the rest of the week.

The woman who saw the children at Digley said: “They’d climbed under the fencing and along the wall and the walkway to look in the overflow.

“As we left they were being joined by more children while an adult had another group of children with him on the opposite end of the bridge, on the wall overlooking the water.

“A further family was picnicking on the stepped area to the other side of the walkway, just above the water. I took the photo as I couldn’t quite believe that anyone could be so stupid.”

Yorkshire Water’s Geoff Lomas said: “People are still putting their lives in danger by swimming and playing in the reservoirs.

“Reservoirs may seem like a good place to take a swim to cool down, but they are extremely dangerous.

“When fatalities occur, it’s often the temperature which is the most significant factor. Reservoirs are deep and the water doesn’t flow like in rivers or the sea so the temperature rarely rises much above 12C.

“Strong currents may also lurk beneath the surface as water is drawn into the supply network.

“It really doesn’t matter how well you can swim as it’s the cold which can kill you.”

They expect many more people to visit reservoirs as the warm spell continues.

Salendine Nook weather expert Paul Stevens recorded temperatures of 21 deg C for the second day in a row yesterday and expects today to be just as warm.

“It’s the warmest March day for six years and is very pleasant. It will stay warm today and tomorrow but will cool off towards the weekend.

“It is also staying very dry and so far in March we have had just 22m of rain – only a third of what we should expect. That comes on the back of a very dry February.”