Young people who walk on frozen waterways and ponds, are dicing with death, the county's emergency services have warned.

Thames Valley Police has received reports over recent days of children and young people playing on iced-over rivers, canals, lakes and ponds. These include the River Thames at Abingdon Marina and lakes in Didcot.

Didcot Town Council called in police after vandals systematically tore down signs warning of the danger of thin ice at the two angling lakes on the Ladygrove estates. The lakes are attracting scores of children enjoying their Christmas break.

Sgt Yvonne Knipe, of Didcot police, said: "One member of the public who saw young people messing about on the Thames at Abingdon got a mouthful of abuse when they tried to tell them how dangerous it was.

"In Didcot, some teenage boys were actually standing on the frozen lake trying to smash the ice. They seemed to have no idea of the risk they were taking."

A town council spokesman said warning signs had been put up around the lakes, but these had been removed and some thrown on the ice.

Other emergency services also issued warnings.

Oxfordshire Fire Service's chief fire officer, John Parry, said: "Every year, firefighters risk their lives to try and save people who have fallen through the ice of waterways.

"We would urge children and young people not to play on frozen rivers, ponds, lakes and canals. Anyone who comes across someone who has fallen in should not be tempted to venture on to the ice to try and save them.

"Instead they should try to reach or throw something which they can grab hold of and be pulled to safety. The emergency services should be called immediately and it is very important to be clear about the location of the incident."

Steve Haynes, deputy director of Oxfordshire Ambulance Service, said people who disregarded warnings and fell into water added to its already high workload.

Thames Water has also advised children to stay away from its reservoirs.