With temperatures remaining high this weekend (Saturday, July 18 – Sunday, July 19), the service is urging residents to resist the temptation to swim in rivers, lakes, or flooded decommissioned quarries.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Chinnor Quarry is a prime example of a body of water that is dangerous.

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“It looks appealing but hidden dangers and deep waters are lethal. There are steep drops and contaminants in the waters.”

Its advice comes after a string of open-water swimming deaths across the UK this summer

The BBC has reported that there have been at least 29 deaths in open water across the UK since the spell of record-breaking hot weather, which began in May.

Chinnor Quarry (Image: Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

This includes the tragic death of 14-year-old boy Baltazar L’Quy in the River Thames on the evening of Wednesday, May 27, close to Donnington Bridge.

As such the fire service has advised the public to stay out of open water, adding that the safest place to swim is in a supervised swimming pool.

The service also warned residents to avoid being near water if they have been drinking alcohol and advised parents to warn their children of the risks and know where they are when they are out playing.

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The dangers of cold open water were also highlighted, including cold-water shock which can affect breathing.

“Half of all people who drown never intended to enter the water,” added the fire service spokesperson.

They also advised people to call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service if they see someone else in difficulties in water.

Britwell Salome Farm Shop, on Red Lion Farm in Watlington, was given a one-star rating by South Oxfordshire District Council environmental health officers following a routine visit in January this year.

The farm shop has now confirmed they received the poor rating after not confirming to new allergy legislation, Natasha’s Law, and paperwork issues.

Natasha’s Law is a landmark UK food safety regulation that requires all food businesses to provide full ingredient lists and highlight allergens on packaging for foods Pre-Packed for Direct Sale (PPDS).

The law is named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the 15-year-old who tragically died in 2016 after suffering a severe allergic reaction to a Pret-a-Manger baguette that contained hidden sesame seeds.

Prior to this law, foods prepared and packaged on the exact same premises from which they were sold, like farm shops, were legally exempt from displaying ingredient labels on their packaging.

Restaurants and bars can regularly receive a poor food hygiene rating because inspectors cannot see enough evidence of safe food management.

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The team at Britwell Salome Farm Shop, left to right are master butcher Martin Piddington, Jake Howard, co-owner Julia Mearns, shop manager Amanda Saunders, and Wayne Anderson (Image: Julia Mearns)

A spokesperson for Britwell Salome Farm Shop said: “We are writing this due to negative comments we have seen and been told about and want to bring you all up to date.

“In January we had a spot EHO inspection.

“We were marked down to one star due to not conforming to new allergy legislation- Natasha’s Law and some other paperwork issues.

“We immediately invested over £3000 in new compliant scales which list all ingredients/ allergens.

“The paperwork is now updated and we have all renewed our Food Safety & Hygiene certificates.

“We followed her advice and guidance and on the inspectors follow up visit in April she was more than happy with our improvements and implied we were now a 4 star.

“We work hard to provide and maintain the highest standards and thank you for your continued support.”

The farm shop was previously handed a five out of five rating in July 2024.

Last month Britwell Salome Farm Shop was named ‘local food and drink champions’ for the south east in the Countryside Alliance Awards 2026.

Ms Mearns said her family, including herself, her husband and their three children, set up at Red Lion Farm in 1993 and took over the chilled unit in the barn when it became vacant in 2008, to begin selling the farm’s meat, including pork, beef and lamb, directly to customers, from field to fork.

The shop also stocks a large selection of other locally produced food, from seasonal fruit and veg from a farm in Stanton St John to local honey from the village, jams and preserves which raise money for Oxford homeless charity Porch, as well as bread baked fresh in Thame.

Long-diverted commuters will be able to have their say over the future of the Cottesmore footbridge as an “information event” will be held on Friday July 31.

The update comes two months after the crossing over the A4142 Eastern Bypass was closed, leading to major long-term detours for schoolchildren and frequent complaints from residents.

Inspectors at Oxfordshire County Council closed the footbridge due to safety concerns with the structure.

It said its top priority is public safety, which it “will not compromise”.

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Cottesmore footbridge (Image: Google Maps)

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, county council cabinet member for transport management, said at the time : “The decision to close the bridge has not been taken lightly, but it was the only option in the circumstances.”

Councillor Ed Turner has said the bridge could be strengthened rather than rebuilt – a potential shot in the arm for locals who have feared the bridge would not be open for several years.

There are signs that strengthening the bridge may be an option, but the structural engineering report is not yet through.

A statement from the deputy leader of Oxford City Council Ed Turner explained other measures are also being put in place to improve the situation for cyclists and walkers.

He said: “The cycle track foliage has been cut back and does look better.

“County council officers are liaising with Sainsbury’s about trying to make the pedestrian / cycle route in from the traffic lights safer.”

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David Henwood, shadow councillor for transport in Oxfordshire County Council, has publicly backed demolition of the Cottesmore footbridge, saying it is the “correct course of action”. (Image: Oxford Mail)

According to councillor Turner, “we now have under four months left and aren’t really further forward.”

A session designed to provide information to parents and regular users of the Cottesmore Road bridge is to be held on Friday, July 31, from 1pm until 5pm at the Littlemore Community Centre in Giles Road.

The footbridge is located between Sainsbury’s and Rose Hill, and links Cottesmore Road and Brocklesbury Road on either side of the busy road.

A 23-minute, one-mile diversion is now in place while engineers assess its options to fix the wobbly bridge, which is not expected to reopen until November 2027.

A petition started last month calling for certainty over the future of the bridge in Oxford.

In the petition, Oxford City Council deputy leader Ed Turner has called on his county council counterparts to commit to repairing or replacing the bridge.

Mr Turner also called on the council to ensure the alternative route is safe in the meantime by cutting down hedges, reviewing bus services, adding lighting and reviewing the safety of the pedestrian crossing and the pavement.