Children rescued after ice melts on frozen pond

Two children have been rescued after becoming trapped on an island in the middle of an icy pond in east London.

The children were unable to return to the shore of Hollow Pond in Leytonstone on Wednesday afternoon because of melting ice.

Fire crews from Leyton, Walthamstow and East Ham stations used inflatable rescue boats and specialist water rescue equipment to reach the boys and bring them to safety by 17:35 GMT.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it had responded to more than 14 ice-related incidents in the past week, prompting urgent warnings.

The incidents include dogs falling into frozen ponds in Southgate, Dulwich and Romford, children playing on lakes in Enfield and Ham, and two people stranded on an icy lake in Chingford after trying to save a dog.

LFB's Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: "I'm urging Londoners to please take extra care and stay off the ice.

"Walking out on to frozen ponds or lakes is extremely dangerous. Never assume that the ice is thick enough to support you.

"It may look sturdy enough to stand on, but it often isn't and can be of variable thickness, especially as you move away from the edge where the ice is often thinner.

"If you fall into icy water, the risk of hypothermia is very high and can prove fatal."

LFB is urging parents to warn their children about the dangers of playing on frozen water.

The brigade added that it had also seen a number of people in danger after attempting to rescue pets.

It advises dog owners to keep their animals on a lead and to call 999 if a person or animal is in difficulty and never go onto the ice or into the water themselves.

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