AN alarming report has revealed that more youngsters are putting their lives in danger by treating quarries as playgrounds.

A study of hundreds of quarries across the country revealed the sites are being broken into by children who swim in lakes, climb the steep rock faces and use them as scramble tracks for motorbikes.

The findings have prompted the Quarry Products Association to launch a Play Safe campaign, urging youngsters to stay away from the sites.

In the North, several young people have died playing in quarries in recent years.

Two teenage anglers drowned when they went swimming to cool off, in a 6ft deep quarry at Thrislington Quarry, near Ferryhill, County Durham five years ago. They became entangled in weeds and were pulled under.

The incident happened just days after a boy was killed when a sand pile collapsed on top of him in the disused Chilton Quarry.

Last March, police issued warnings after youths were found jumping off the edge of a 100ft quarry between Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill near Durham City into an anti-litter net, using it as a trampoline.

The rescue services are regularly called out to help youngsters after they get into difficulties while climbing.

Station Officer Dave Turnbull, of Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, said it had set up a special rope team, based at Peterlee.

He warned that rescues could also put other people's lives at risk.

Elizabeth Clements, from the Quarry Products Association said that during summer evenings and holidays children's natural inquisitiveness often led them to seeking out new places.

She said: "Site managers are desperately worried about this problem, which has claimed a number of lives over recent years and could cost more this summer."