FIREFIGHTERS across Oxfordshire have warned of the dangers faced when swimming in the county's rivers and canals, as they mark National Drowning Prevention Week.

Latest figures show crews in the county were called out eight times last year to rescue people from water, but so far this year there have already been 13.

Last week firefighters in Banbury carried out a training exercise at a reservoir beside the M40.

The officers practised wading through the water, moving a rescue sled and throwing out a rope to people pretending to be in trouble.

Overlooked by station manager Steve Anderson, the crew worked hard to prepare themselves for the rescue calls they hope they will never have to answer.

Mr Anderson, who was worked in the county for the last 15 years, said: "What we want to do is highlight the dangers that members of the public have when they go swimming.

"We do not want to ruin people's fun but there are some key messages we need to get out to stop people getting in that position."

Sadly there has also been four fatalities since the start of last year from drownings.

That figure includes 16-year-old Ellis Downes from Harwell, who drowned in the River Thames in Culham last month, and Cheney School pupil Aown Dogar, 13, who died in the river by Donnington Bridge.

Mr Anderson said: "These figures seem quite low but actually for us there are pretty high.

"From a national perspective they are really pushing these messages for people to stay safe, as for us we are a small county but obviously have a lot of river water."

Speaking about the sharp increase in rescues, Mr Anderson said it may be down to the warmer weather so far this year which makes people more likely to go swimming.

He added: "School holidays are usually a peak time because there are more people going down to the rivers.

"In my personal experience, a lot of the people we rescue may have had too much to drink as well and ended up in the water.

"A lot of people do that but don't realise the implications."

When it comes to call-outs, the fire service works alongside the police and ambulance to carry out rescues.

Response teams will usually wade out if the water is low enough to walk, or will throw out a line of rope to pull someone in.

Firefighters will also patrol the river bank to watch out for any debris, and to warn against any quick changes in currents.

If the current is too strong to get to swimmers, a specialist team based in Kidlington, who have received further training, is called to help.

Mr Anderson said: "That team will be able to swim through the water to get to people and they also have a boat to use as well.

"What we don't want to do is put firefighters at risk. What we try to avoid though is members of the public diving in although that is often a human reaction in that situation,

The training also coincided with National Drowning Prevention Week, which aims to teach people how to stay safe near water.

Mr Anderson added: "You don't know what's lurking under the surface either, there could be pollution or other river craft.

"It might look like calm water but there can be strong currents to watch out for if you're not helpful."

Although in the hot sun, water can seem like a warm prospect. It can often be much lower temperature when you jump in and there is a risk of cold water shock.