STARK warnings have been issued to youngsters not to play on Shoebury’s Mulberry Harbour after a teenager broke his ankle jumping off it.

The Coastguard and RNLI have urged people not to jump off the old wartime structure, situated about a mile off Shoebury, because they could injure themselves in low tide.

An 18-year-old had to be rescued by the RNLI lifeboat on Bank Holiday Monday when he jumped and landed in agony.

The lifeboat crew gave first aid to the injured teenager, who was also suffering the effects of mild hypothermia and shock, and carried him on a stretcher back to the lifeboat.

Because of the low water, the lifeboat was met by the RNLI rescue hovercraft and the teenager was transferred on board along with a paramedic and coastguard for the journey back across the mud, to a waiting ambulance and on to Southend Hospital.

Den Freeman, from the RNLI, said: “It’s always attractive to people when it’s warm and is often busy, but we advise people not to jump from it and to always be aware of the tide times, as people can also get cut off walking to it.”

Southend Council has also said the structure should not be treated as a playground.

John Lamb, councillor responsible for tourism, said: “People should not be going down there and should not be playing on it.

“There have been occasions when people looked at taking it away, but of course it would cost quite a bit and would be up to the Government, not the council, to remove it.

“People really ought to keep away from it. It is something to view, but not somewhere to go and play. It’s a wreck.

“This incident should serve as a warning to all those thinking of doing the same. You can’t see what’s underneath the water.”

The Mulberry Harbour was a floating harbour developed in the Second World War. It was intended to be used in the Normandy landings on D-Day, but became stranded in the estuary while being towed.