SDLP Environment spokesperson Dolores Kelly has urged Councils to heed advice issued by former Environment Minister Alex Attwood to dye any excess water in local quarries to act as a disincentive for swimming.

The SDLP MLA for Upper Bann was speaking after the deaths of four young people in the last two months.

Ms Kelly said: "The last two months have served as a terrible reminder of the dangers of these areas of excess water in our local quarries. The former Environment Minister Alex Attwood wrote urgently to Councils earlier this month urging them to dye the water to act as a disincentive to swimming.

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"This measure has been proven to be effective in England. I commend Armagh Council for heeding the advice of Alex Attwood and would strongly urge other Councils to follow.

"All of these deaths are tragedies and we have a responsibility as elected representatives to do everything we can to ensure this does not happen again. I am confident that Minister Durkan will continue the work of Alex Attwood to work with Councils in addressing this serious issue. I want to express my deepest sympathies with the families and friends of the victims of these terrible accidents."

(CD/JP)