INTERNET footage showing youngsters leaping 40 feet into water in a quarry has been branded irresponsible and dangerous by police.

A series of videos posted on the Internet shows youths jumping and diving from sheer cliffs into water at the former Chinnor Cement Works.

A social networking group has also been set up inviting more youngsters to visit the quarry to leap into the water and hold a party.

Three weeks ago a teenage girl was rescued by the air ambulance after she suffered a suspected broken leg.

When police arrived they found about 100 younsgters from across Oxfordshire leaping into the water.

Crime reduction adviser Malcom Wills said: “Some of the banks are 40 foot high and in places the water is 50 feet deep.

“When you get below two metres in the water it gets very cold and there is a real danger that this can cause people to gasp, open their mouths and drown.

“I spoke to these youngsters about the dangers and the reasons.

“They were completely blasé about it all replying ‘we’ve got to die sometime’ and ‘we’re prepared to take the risk’. There seemed to be no way to reason with them.

“Some of their actions have been utterly outrageous from the point of view of safety and are putting their lives in danger.”

Some of the youngsters have suffered skin irritations, he added.

Police found youths at the quarry who had travelled from Oxford, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and even Nottingham.

Others arrived in taxis as police were at the scene.

Members have signed up to a Facebook group planning more parties at the quarry with links to footage of youths leaping and diving 40 feet into the water.

in one of the clips, a youth dives headfirst from the cliff and another four leap in one after another.

They have attracted thousands of views on video sharing website YouTube.

Police have closed any gaps at the cement work’s boundary and security guards have been drafted in.

Anyone caught at the cement works could be arrested and prosecuted for trespass.

The area, which is now owned by housing developers Taylor-Wimpey, featured in James Bond movie Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan.

A spokesman said: “Quarry jumping is extremely dangerous.

“Each year hundreds of people are injured and there have been a number of fatalitites from people taking part in this sort of activity. We have taken every possible precaution to keep members of the public away from the quarries at Chinnor and we strongly urge people to stay away from the area.”

In 1996 Bicester schoolboy Noel Vidler, 15, died after he jumped into water with friends at a quarry at Stratton Audley.

Jo Stagg, spokesman for the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents, said: “Sadly every summer we hear about youngsters drowning while swimming in quarries, lakes and gravel pits so it is really important people know the risks.

“There are a range of hazards including hidden rocks, currents and cold water.”

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk