POLICE and city leaders have warned against the dangers of "urban exploring" after a group of reckless teenagers risked their lives to climb cranes.

The youngsters, thought to be aged between 14 and 17, scaled cranes up to 100ft tall at Centenary Quay in Southampton on Sunday evening.

Last night the firm behind the development promised a review of security to stop a repeat of the frightening scenes.

Web developer Josh Reade, 26, lives in the second floor of one of the blocks and watched as the youngsters clambered over hoardings around the building site and up the cranes.

He said: “They were dangling their legs off the top. We called the police. One officer came in one van then the kids climbed down and ran off.

"He said he didn’t want to scare the kids and said the police had already received several phone calls, but they took 25 minutes to get there.

"The kids climbed over the big wooden barriers, there are quite often people in there - always kids.”

A father of one himself, Josh took pictures of the youngsters and said: “They’re trespassing and we were worried. If one of them fell it would be instant death. The cranes are at least 10 storeys high. I’ve seen it a good few times, and if a kid falls off a crane whoever sees that is going to be affected.”

Work on the £500million development continues on the former Vosper Thornycroft site which will eventually feature 1,600 homes.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith condemned the actions as "reckless and irresponsible".

He said: "It's outrageous. People might say it's their own fault when something happens but there's a duty of care there and they should ensure that kids can't get access to the buildings. It's in their own interests - if one of them falls, [developer] Crest Nicholson will find themselves in some trouble."

Council deputy leader and Woolston ward councillor Warwick Payne said: “The current spate of people climbing buildings is a craze that Southampton could well do without. Anyone who does it is taking their life in their hands.

"The frustrating thing is that no matter how much security there is there are some people who are hellbent on breaking in and for anyone - especially someone of school age - to be doing so is troubling.”

A spokesman from Hampshire police said the force was not investigating as trespass was a civil matter, but highlighted the risk of free-running and climbing on vacant buildings and construction sites.

A spokesman for Crest Nicholson said: “We are aware of the trespassers on site at Centenary Quay this weekend and can confirm that the police were alerted at the time. On-site safety and security is our number one priority and we are already undertaking a full review of our security procedures on site."