UNIVERSITY bosses have repeated their plea to students to stay safe following three river deaths.

In a joint message sent to all Durham students, acting vice-chancellor Professor Ray Hudson and Dan Slavin, president of Durham Students’ Union (DSU), urged them to drink alcohol responsibly, take safe routes home avoiding the River Wear and look after friends and stick together while walking home.

Three students, Sope Peters, Luke Pearce and Euan Coulthard, have died in the river within 15 months and a fourth student was rescued from the icy water in January.

Earlier this week, the City Safety Group announced a raft of new safety measures including pub door breathalyser tests, a drunk tank, a street angels-style support scheme and new bus and taxi services.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) will carry out an independent review of riverside safety in March and report within a month.

The DSU will launch a three-year “social norms” campaign aimed at promoting positive behaviour while drinking alcohol.

Prof Hudson and Mr Slavin thanked students for their support and cooperation, after more than 200 volunteered to help their peers late at night.

Prof Hudson said: “Durham University’s senior management is treating the matters of student safety and excessive alcohol consumption with the utmost seriousness.

“We are committed to doing all we can to reduce risks to safety.”