Another lifebelt has been stolen from the riverside in Longtown, near to where a young dad drowned.

It has come as a blow to community leaders just weeks after they reinforced safety measures on the banks of the River Esk.

For more than 10 years they have battled with vandals, who have repeatedly ripped out and thrown away the lifebelts.

The lifebelts are now checked every day by the council’s caretaker or councillors themselves. Any missing are reported and replaced.

Dean John Price, 32, drowned in the river in June while trying to save his seven-year-old daughter, Delilah. She was rescued by off-duty firefighter Geoff Maxwell, from Langholm.

At the time of the tragedy, Arthuret parish council was criticised because two lifebelts were missing. The authority was advised it had no legal obligation to monitor the lifebelt situation, but pledged to continue to replace them because it felt a moral obligation.

Gordon Routledge, the parish council’s vice chairman, hopes this latest theft is an isolated incident, but it is the second time a lifebelt has been stolen this year.

He said: “It’s disappointing, because it’s not long since we said we’d been pleased they’d been left alone and people were taking a responsible attitude – and a couple of weeks later there’s one missing.

“We are going to keep on replacing them because we said we had a moral obligation to do it.

“The disappointing thing is that people are paying for these through the precept. For now we’ll keep on replacing them.”

It’s thought the latest lifebelt theft took place on Saturday evening. It was reported the following day.

The lifebelts cost about £300 each. There are usually three – one on the bridge and two on the riverbanks.

Ray Bloxham, who represents Longtown on Carlisle City Council, was also frustrated, and shocked that it had happened so soon after the tragedy.

“It’s a great shame that somebody has taken the lifebelt which could be the means of saving somebody’s life or losing it.

“Added to which we have just gone through a very tragic situation where someone did lose their life,” he said. “I would have thought people, certainly people in Longtown, would have known how dangerous it is. But I have to say it doesn’t surprise me.”

Mr Bloxham added: “It’s a mindless act.”

He thinks it’s a wider problem and that his authority and the parish council should be working with the Environment Agency to find a solution. Both councillors are advising people to report any incidents of vandalism or theft of the lifebelts to the police by calling officers on 101 or the parish council on 01228 791739.

The parish council plans to highlight the dangers of swimming in rivers to schoolchildren and will post advice on its forthcoming website – arthuretparishcouncil.co.uk.

Mr Price’s body was found on July 1 following an extensive search by firefighters, mountain rescue teams, police officers, coastguards and an RAF helicopter.

His family were staying at the Hadrian’s Camp travellers’ site near Carlisle at the time of the tragedy.