WEST Somerset youngsters who 'tombstone' - jump into the sea from walls or cliffs - could be given a dedicated safe area to pursue the popular but often dangerous craze.

West Somerset's police chief Inspector Carol Pearce said this week there was a need to investigate whether a structure could be provided somewhere along the West Somerset coast.

"There needs to be more education but young people will always do it and I think we need to look at whether some sort of structure could be put up where they could safely jump into the sea," she said.

Ms Pearce was responding to concerns raised by Watchet town councillor Doug Webber who spotted 15 youngsters 'tombstoning' off the pier at Watchet last week.

He said the water was only about 6ft deep at the time and he had been very worried.

"If they had hit the bottom, I hate to think what could have happened," he told the monthly meeting of the council on Monday.

He said he appreciated there were notices warning people not to jump from the harbour walls but these were being ignored.

Ms Pearce said she had "ranted" about the problem at many area panel meetings across the district in the past: "The harbour definitely isn't the place for this to be happening. I would support anything that might save a young person's life," she said.

In 2007 Minehead teenager Sam Boyd died after jumping into the town's harbour and being caught out by the fast-running tide, strong undercurrent and an offshore wind.

A spokesman for West Somerset Council, which owns both Minehead and Watchet harbours, said the authority strongly urged people to heed the safety signs put up so that they did not put themselves or other harbour users at risk.

"We particularly appeal to parents and carers to educate children about the dangers of swimming in unsuitable areas such as harbours, and the dangers of jumping into the sea from sea walls and piers."

Ms Pearce was at the meeting to tell the council about policing in the Watchet area, where she said crime was falling significantly but calls regarding anti-social behaviour were "still there."

Cllr Webber, who also complained about the tombstoning youngsters swearing, said he had had problems reporting the incident to the police.

He had initially tried to contact police in Williton but had had to ring the centralised Avon and Somerset force switchboard in Portishead.

"When I got through to Portishead, I waited and waited and in the end I put the phone down."

He said he phoned again and eventually was able to report the incident.

Later he was rung by local beat officer PC Lisa Rigby but he said it would have been better if he could have contacted local officers sooner.

Inspector Pearce said her hands were tied because all calls had to go into the centralised system but mobile numbers of local beat teams were available to councillors and the public.