Holiday spot's bridge jumping ban

The area is said to be advertised on the internet for 'jumpers'

Bridge jumpers have been warned to stay away from a north Wales village over the summer months.

Betws y Coed community council plan to enforce a local bye-law banning the activity.

Jumping into the river Llugwy is a well-known summer activity but councillors are worried someone could be seriously injured or even killed.

There are also fears crowds of onlookers could create a traffic hazard on the narrow Pont y Pair bridge.

Conwy county councillor Liz Roberts said the situation in the village was getting progressively worse as the area was now being advertised on websites and radio as somewhere good to jump.

We watch in fear that someone is going to get hurt

Gavin Bailey, businessman

"We have minibus loads of people coming here from England just to jump from the bridge, someone is going to get killed unless something is done," she said.

Inspector Ian Maxwell from North Wales Police said: "It is a long standing historic issue which is unacceptable.

"The local community beat manager has been in discussion with the local council looking for a long term solutions to this issue.

"This year, like any other, we will deploy officers to the location with a view to prosecute those who create disturbances in and around the bridge."

Local residents are also worried about the situation.

"We watch in fear that someone is going to get hurt, but it seems to me it would be pretty impossible to stop people jumping there," said Gavin Bailey, who runs a business near the bridge.

One idea being looked at is to install CCTV cameras in the area, but lack of funding has affected the council's plans in the past, said councillor Roberts.

"But we really must push for something to be done before someone is killed," she added.