A Lochaber mum has called for her fellow parents to stop teenagers putting themselves at risk by playing near an unsafe riverbank next to a fast-flowing river.
Fiona Brown says she was horrified when she spotted young people were playing under the An Aird bridge near Inverlochy.
The mother-of-four said she was walking her grandchildren along the path when she saw the “shocking behaviour” of school-aged children.
Ms Brown explained: “I have lost a child myself, so I know the heartache it causes. I want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else, if it can be helped.
“While I was walking to Inverlochy going across the bridge at An Aird, nine or ten high school aged boys and girls came out from under the bridge.
“One boy proceeded to walk along the bridge on the outside of the bridge. It was very frightening to watch. He clearly didn’t know the danger he was putting himself in.
“The water was very high at the time and it was raining.
“If any one of these kids had fallen into the water, the sides of the riverbank are unclimbable to get out. And I cannot bare to think of the outcome.
“I want to raise awareness of this issue, because I could not have it on my conscience that I had not warned everyone I can, about the dangers these teenagers are putting themselves in.
“Please can you talk to your children, grandchildren about dangers of water and being under bridges?
“I was talking to one of my own sons about it, and he said “Mum, when we were teenagers we used to go under that bridge”. I didn’t even know about it.
“Find out if your kids are there and walking along the outside of the bridge. I have phoned Lochaber High School about this, so they can reiterate this as well.
“I actually think the kids should never be able to get down there in the first place.”
Deputy Council leader Alan Henderson agreed with Mrs Brown, he said: “This is a very dangerous practice. I can see why young people might think it is a good idea as a short cut to go this way – but it is very dangerous.
“One wrong step and they will be in the water and swept away.
“Please, please make sure your children are not going near it.”