WOULD be thrill-seekers at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct have been warned they could be putting lives at risk by not respecting the dangers posed by the World Heritage site.

As part of the bid to save lives, a new safety campaign has been launched by Glynd?r Cymru, the Canal and River Trust charity in Wales, to deter adrenaline-junkie stand-up paddle boarders and speeding cyclists from crossing the aqueduct.

‘PontySafety’ aims to stop dozens of people who each year put themselves and others at risk by paddling on stand-up boards along the aqueduct trough, which has no railing on one side, or cycling along the narrow towpath and potentially crashing into pedestrians.

Lynda Slater, Trevor Basin visitor centre manager with the Canal and River Trust, said: “The beautiful Llangollen Canal and the stunning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct are wonderful places to visit and enjoy the great outdoors. Last year nearly half a million people came to admire our spectacular World Heritage Site and the numbers are increasing year on year.

“Unfortunately some people see the ‘Stream in the Sky’, 126 feet above the Dee Valley, as a dare-devil, sporting challenge. Out of courtesy, we ask all cyclists to dismount and walk their bikes along the aqueduct towpath. Sadly some people ignore this advice and put themselves and others at risk by pedalling at speed along the narrow path.

“The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a very special structure - one of the wonders of the waterways. We want everyone to enjoy their visit here. Canals are marvellous places to enjoy the fresh air and get fit and healthy. We just appeal to everyone to ‘share the space’ and be considerate of other people.”