A fire chief has warned Ayrshire people to stay off frozen bodies of water.
With temperatures set to plunge again this week, the warning comes after several Kilmarnock beauty spots froze over.
The Kay Park and Dean Park ponds both turned to ice with many taking the opportunity for some ice hockey and skating.
But Alasdair Perry, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS) head of prevention and protection, issued a stern warning for families and individuals to steer clear of the ice as he revealed that 50 per cent of drowning cases involving ice in the UK involved the attempted rescue of another person or a pet.
And the SFRS is warning that while ice can look and feel solid, it can suddenly crack and cause a person to fall through and potentially become trapped under the ice.
Mr Perry said: “We would ask everyone to be aware of the dangers of ice during this cold snap and strongly advise against walking or playing on any iced-up waterways and always ensure that children are kept away from any iced over ponds or rivers.
“If you are out with your pet, do not throw sticks or balls near frozen water, and if they do get into trouble on the ice, do not venture onto the ice yourself to attempt a rescue – dial 999.
"The ice may look solid, but it is not worth the risk to step out on to it."
The low temperature of the water can also bring on cold-water shock, which can be potentially deadly.
Cold-water shock can cause breathing difficulties, blood vessels to close, the heart-rate to increase and lead to a heart attack.
Michael Avril is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) regional water safety lead for Scotland.
He said: “Walking on ice is extremely risky and unpredictable and the RNLI advise that you avoid doing this. If you do fall through, the freezing water temperatures can bring on cold water shock.
“If you find yourself or someone else in trouble, dial 999 and ask for the fire service immediately. Do not attempt to rescue anyone yourself.”
For more information on 'Cold Water Shock', please visit the RNLI website at https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock
