The mother of a 10-year-old girl who drowned after falling into the River Dee at a tourist spot yesterday lent her support to a river safety campaign.

Jill Skea, who lost her daughter Zoe during a family day out last year at the Linn of Quoich, features on a campaign poster giving the poignant message: "I wouldn't wish the events that followed on anyone.

"The lives of our family and friends have been changed forever. I would do anything to touch her, hold her, kiss her. All I can do is live with this empty feeling and wonder how things would be if she was still here."

Grampian Police launched the campaign at the River Dee near Banchory, where two other 10-year-old schoolgirls were rescued recently. They were saved by local hotelier Marcus Jaffrey and ghillie Walter Rait who went to their aid after they got into difficulty while surfing the river on improvised rafts - exactly one year after Zoe died.

The campaign focuses on the River Dee because it is such a popular venue for sporting and leisure activities but over the years has claimed many lives, police say.

Banchory's community police officer, PC Andy Cruickshank, said local beauty spots could be lethal.

"The bridges over the River Dee have frequently been used by people jumping into the water, an activity which can be very dangerous because of the strong currents and rocks and which has led to people being seriously injured in the past."

He added there had been an increase in rough camping by the water edge in recent years which has impacted on wildlife and the environment and they were hoping to raise awareness of all the dangers.

Speaking for the first time about the tragedy Mrs Skea said: "None of us there had realised how ferocious the water was that day, or that there was an underground cave which would trap Zoe for over six hours.

"Zoe was a strong swimmer but that didn't help her." She spoke of the "frustration and desperation" they felt as they tried in vain to pull her out of the water, the "indescribable emotions" she felt while she was missing; "seeing her when she was retrieved from the cave; seeing her in her white coffin; planning her funeral; that final goodbye on the day of her funeral; walking behind her coffin at the funeral; the feeling I get every morning when I wake up and realise this is real and that empty feeling I have to live with every day".

She added: "I would give anything to be able to touch her, hold her, kiss her. To be able to feel her, smell her, hear her and see her but all I can do is hope that no matter where she is now she can hear me tell her how much I love her, miss her and wish more than anything I could be with her."