Police are urging people not to walk on the frozen Oxford Canal.

Officers have been called to a number of incidents over the past few days in Banbury where people have been attempting to walk across or along the frozen water.

Banbury officer PC Paul Froggatt said: “I have been called to a number of incidents over the past few days where people have been walking on the frozen water near to the Castle Quay Shopping Centre.

"In one incident, children were seen 20 feet out into the middle on one of the widest parts of the canal.

“Not only are people putting themselves at risk but also the people involved in any subsequent rescue attempts.

"A couple of years ago somebody died after falling through ice, so I can’t emphasise enough how dangerous this sort of activity is.

“No matter how solid the ice might look, do not even take a chance, as there is no way of knowing how thick the ice is.”

Police said they had received 'numerous reports' of people walking on frozen lakes, ponds and rivers and asked people to keep off them.

Since 9am yesterday, police said they had taken at least six calls from residents reporting children and adults walking and playing on frozen lakes across the Thames Valley. Incidents had been reported in Oxord, Milton Keynes, Bracknell and Aylesbury.