Children seen playing on ice after Solihull lake deaths

Jack Johnson, brothers Finlay and Samuel Butler and their cousin Thomas Stewart died after falling into the icy lake

People are being warned to stay away from icy water after children were spotted playing on frozen lakes just days after an incident that cost the lives of four boys.

The four - aged six, eight, 10 and 11 - died after falling into an icy lake at Babbs Mill Park, near Solihull.

Hillstone Primary School, attended by two of them, Finlay and Samuel Butler, said it was "utterly devastated".

It said the brothers were popular and "an absolute pleasure to teach".

The pair died along with their cousin Thomas Stewart and another boy, Jack Johnson.

They were all pulled from the water on Sunday, with the deaths of Finlay, eight, Thomas, 11, and Jack, 10, confirmed at the start of the week. Samuel, six, died on Wednesday.

But despite their deaths, emergency services have had to issue warnings after a number of incidents around the West Midlands.

Solihull Council said it had been told children in other locations in the borough had been seen on frozen water in recent days.

West Midlands Fire Service said that on Thursday it had to rescue a woman in her 60s from an icy lake at Himley Park in Staffordshire after she went in to try to rescue her dog.

Staffordshire Police said it was aware children had been playing on the ice at Four Ponds, near Loomer Road in Chesterton, and warned of the dangers of doing so.

Police in Stoke-on-Trent echoed the guidance - as have authorities across the UK - and said PCSOs had been patrolling Westport Lake to make sure people were staying safe.

Ian Courts, the leader of Solihull Council, said: "The loss of a child is a life sentence.

"Those of us who've suffered it know you never get over it."

Issuing a warning to residents, he added: "You must please stay off ice."

In the incident on Thursday at Himley Park, a firefighter who entered the water to help the woman, but was unable to swim to her location due to thick ice, had to be treated for mild hypothermia.

A boat was used to get the woman and her pet to safety.

Before firefighters left the scene, they were alerted to a second dog in the water and had to send the boat out once more.

"We understand that dog owners will want to do all they can to rescue their pet if it gets into difficulty," a spokesperson said. "But please keep them on leads near frozen, open water."

PCSOs have been patrolling Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent

There were also two reports of young people being seen walking on frozen water in Warwickshire on Wednesday, prompting a response from multiple emergency services.

Extensive searches were carried out at Seeswood Pool in Nuneaton and at the Nook in Bedworth, said Warwickshire's deputy chief constable, Alex Franklin-Smith.

Warwickshire's chief fire officer, Ben Brook, added: "All open water, particularly when it's frozen, can pose significant risks to people."

In Solihull, many parents continue to visit the site near to where the tragedy unfolded, paying their respects to the boys.

A vigil is due to be held at the spot on Saturday.

The headteacher at Hillstone Primary School, Jason King, said: "Finlay was an extremely well-behaved boy who always worked so hard in school to be the best that he could be.

"Sam was also a model pupil who had an inquisitive nature and love for learning."

Mr King said his school was "a close community" and would "pull together", adding support for pupils and parents was available.

"Finlay, Sam and their parents will always be part of the Hillstone family," he said.

An inquest into the deaths of the four boys will be opened by Birmingham's senior coroner Louise Hunt on Monday.