AN independent review of safety on the banks of the River Wear in Durham City will be carried out following the death of university student Euan Coulthard.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents will be asked to assess what needs to be done following the third river death of a student in just over a year.

The review is among measures announced this morning following a meeting of The City Safety Group, which includes Durham County Council, Durham University, the Durham Students’ Union, Durham Constabulary and Durham Cathedral.

A group spokesman said it had agreed “an informed and measured response to the complex range of issues raised will deliver the changes required to improve safety in the city”.

Among the measures are help to recruit drivers so the students union can reintroduce a night bus and work with local taxi operators to give at-risk students a safe method of getting home.

Mr Coulthard, 19, a Durham University law student went missing on January 14 during a night out in the city centre to celebrate a friend’s 21st birthday.

His body was recovered from the River Wear on Friday (January 23) after a search by diving enthusiast Trevor Bankhead, who found the missing student near Framwelgate Bridge close to the spot where he was last seen alive.

Mr Coulthard was the third Durham University student to die in the river in the last 18 months, prompting calls for more to be done to protect young people enjoying a night out in the city.

An online petition calling for safety improvements on the riverbanks, launched by 30-year-old Durham resident Robyn Travers, has passed 15,000 signatures and won backing from Prime Minister David Cameron.

Other initial steps announced by the City Safety Group include: • Durham University and the Students’ Union will develop their existing work to educate students about staying safe • Education for licensed premises to ensure alcohol is supplied in a safe and sensible way lone customers are viewed as vulnerable will be introduced.

• Examining measures to tackle the availability of cheap alcohol in the city • The development of a night-time scheme supported by student volunteers to work alongside Durham Street Lights.

Durham County Council’s Neighbourhood Services Director, Terry Collins, said: “I thought it was a really positive meeting, there was really strong partnership working and a commitment to find a way forward with this.

“We agreed some short, medium and long--term actions.

“We will do some things that will be immediately visible and will have an impact straight away and there will be some work that will have a longer approach.

“RoSPA will give us an independent review of the riverbanks.

“We are aware they have done that previously in places like York.

“All the landlords around the city – the cathedral, university and private landlords - are keen for that to happen.”

The group hopes to meet RoSPA early in February . It will look at physical measures and education, guardianship and consider safety schemes that operate in other cities.

Meanwhile, floral tributes and message have been left at the scene of the tragedy.

One hand-written note described Euan as a fantastic friend, bright student and all round lovely guy, said he would be sorely missed and added: “Keep smiling that beautiful smile”.

Another, addressed to all three Durham University students who have died in the River Wear recently – Euan, Sope Peters and Luke Pearce, read: “Always in our hearts. Never forgotten. You left too soon but the whole university will strive to prevent another.”

A stretch of riverside path between Framwelgate Bridge and Prebends Bridge has been closed off for “essential works”.

Yesterday, Mr Coulthard’s family issued a statement saying they had been left “totally bereft”

Mr Coulthard's mother Hester, father Ross and 17-year-old sister, Frances, of Bottesford, Leicestershire, described Euan as “a friendly, out-going and fun-loving young man who embraced university life and had a very bright future ahead of him”.

His friends and family are expected to attend a candle-lit vigil which will be held in his home village on Saturday (January 31).

An inquest into Mr Coulthard’s death will be opened tomorrow (Thursday, January 29) and is expected to be adjourned to a later date.