Youngsters are jumping into Shrewsbury’s weir and leaving bottles smashed on the floor, putting people’s safety at risk, it has been claimed.
The flood of people congregating down by the Castlefields weir drinking alcohol and swimming in the river has been put down to the recent sunny weather.
Broken glass has been left strewn in the area and fears were heightened recently after police attended the troublespot following reports of anti social behaviour. Several people have received cuts to their feet on broken glass by the weir.
Around ten years ago a young woman had to be rescued after getting stuck in the salmon run.
Ahead of another predicted hot weekend, when temperatures could reach 24 degrees on Friday and Saturday, town officials are warning of the dangers of mixing alcohol with a strong river current.
Miles Kenny, councillor for the Underdale ward, said: “It’s a regular hotspot for people chilling out and there’s been an increase in people drinking down there due to the hot weather with youngsters jumping in and leaving smashed bottles in the area.
“Alcohol and water do not mix and the message has got to be that people must resist the temptation to jump in the water and be a lot more careful than some are being at the moment.
“No one has been impaled yet but it is bound to happen if people keep jumping in because a whole lot of stuff comes down that river.”
Richard Ewels, spokesperson for West Mercia Police, said: “It’s often younger people who gather down by the weir and we have had officers called down there in the past so the message is don’t put yourself in danger.
“The weir is a particularly dangerous spot with powerful currents and we strongly advise people not to go swimming in there no matter how tempting the water may seem during the hot weather.
“If they want to cool down people should go to the swimming baths where it is completely safe.”
By David Seadon
