"The advice is not to panic, float on your back and then either call for help or swim to safety."

That was the message from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) as it sought to raise awareness and prevent drowning accidents.

The call came ahead of the Easter school holidays and relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, with people expected to flock to the county's lakes and coastline.

Steve Eddy, CFRS Barrow crew manager, said Cumbria's fire service carried out more than 200 water rescues between 2015 and 2020, with eight fatalities.

“Our county has lots of beauty spots near the water and they are especially nice to enjoy when the sun is shining," he said.

"We don’t want to spoil people’s fun by telling them not to jump into rivers and lakes, but we do feel it is important to educate the whole community about the risk open water poses if you are not a trained professional with the correct equipment.

“Prevention is always better than cure.

"We want people to enjoy the water safely and we are fully committed to preventing drowning incidents from happening in the first place.

"In order to do this, more education is needed, not just in schools but also through engaging with the public in awareness campaigns, so that people fully understand the risks and are better prepared.”

CFRS safety advice includes:

• If you are spending time near water, make sure you know what to do if you happen to fall in. The advice is not to panic, float on your back and then either call for help or swim to safety.

• If you have consumed alcohol, do not enter the water, and avoid walking routes near water.

• Never enter the water to try and help a person or animal – always call 999 and use any water rescue equipment if it is available.

• If you are spending time near water, whether at home or abroad, make sure you are familiar with local safety information and that children are always fully and actively supervised.

The fire service says half of accidental drownings in the UK occur in cases where the deceased did not intend to go into the water.

"Most people would be shocked to hear that 263 people across the UK lost their lives last year while spending time near water," said Mr Eddy.

"This is because they were unaware of the risks and unprepared for the scenario of ending up in the water.

"By highlighting this issue and making sure simple safety messages reach our communities, we hope to reduce the number of these preventable deaths."

CFRS is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council's 'be water aware' campaign.