MESSAGES about the potentially fatal risk of jumping in cold water without acclimatising were broadcast over the airwaves this summer.

Durham County Council, a member of the Safe Durham Partnership, and Bishop FM joined forces to increase public awareness with a public service announcement on cold water shock.

The piece was broadcast on Bishop FM throughout the school summer holidays as part of the partnership’s Dying to be Cool campaign and was funded by Durham county councillor Joy Allen, the council’s portfolio holder for safer communities.

Cllr Allen said: “We are very grateful to Bishop FM for helping us to get this important safety message out over the summer months.

“We hope the announcement has and will continue to help the station’s listeners stay safe around water.”

Gillian Campbell, volunteer director at Bishop FM, said: “We recognised that this was a powerful message that needed to reach as many people as possible across South Durham, and were more than happy to help with this campaign.”