Cumbernauld parents warned as boys play on frozen pond

Earlier this week, three boys were seen standing on St Maurice's Pond, which had frozen over during the recent cold snap. A sign near the water warned of "danger ... thin ice", but witnesses said the boys were "trying to crack the ice while in the middle of it".

A concerned mother who saw the incident shared her fears and urged others to speak to their children. She said: "Please tell your teens to stay off the ice."

Parents have been asked to remain vigilant, as the area continues to face freezing temperatures, with lows of -3C expected in the coming days.

Carlene McAvoy, from Water Safety Scotland, said: “We encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors and the benefits it brings, but it’s important to do so safely and with awareness. One key risk we want to highlight is the danger posed by frozen bodies of water.

“While ice can appear solid and inviting, there’s no way to know if it can support your weight or how deep the water is beneath. For this reason, we’re urging people to stay well clear of frozen water, keep children away, and ensure dogs are kept on leads.”

A Met Office warning for ice is in place from midnight on Wednesday until 10am the same day, covering Cumbernauld, Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

The Met Office said: “Icy patches overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning could lead to some disruption.

“Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.

“If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.”