Youngsters are putting their lives at risk by fooling around on the ice at beauty spots around the West Midlands, safety experts warned today.

Two teenagers were captured on film walking on a frozen lake at Himley Hall in Dudley, despite repeated warnings from passers-by about the huge risks they were taking. And this second image taken at Milking Bank Pool in Dudley shows three boys dicing with death on the ice, their bikes abandoned by the water edge as a friend looks on.

The Himley Hall photograph, taken by walker Dr David Edwards, prompted the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to re-issue a warning about the dangers of ice.

The society says half of those drowned in frozen lakes have been rescuers.

Dr Edwards, aged 40, whose own schoolfriend drowned in a pool, was walking in the grounds of Himley Hall with his five-year-old daughter Rebecca when he spotted the boys skating on the ice and even attempting to ride a bike across the frozen surface.

The university lecturer from Lower Gornal said that despite being reprimanded by a number of park visitors, the boys left the ice only when a member of staff appeared.

His 12-year-old friend, from The Straits in Dudley, drowned years ago while fishing, said Dr Edwards.

He said: “My friend did not realise the risk but these guys seemed to revel in the commotion and fright they created.”

ROSPA spokeswoman Jo Stagg said today: “The scene captured on Himley Hall lake is extremely worrying.

“People are putting their lives and potentially the lives of others in real danger.”

Himley Hall estate manager Sally Newell said today: “The warden service is aware that people are going on the frozen lake and if they see anybody they make sure they get off immediately.”