DURHAM'S safety chief has called on students to take responsibility for themselves after two more plunged into a river that has claimed the lives of three of their peers.

Terry Collins, chair of the City Safety Group, said the council, police and others were doing everything they could, but students had to "work with us" and behave responsibly.

"The partners have done everything they can to maximise safety in Durham and Durham remains a safe place.

"But this comes down to the behaviour and willingness of students to act responsibly," he said.

At the weekend, door supervisor Daniel Thompson told how he and colleague Olly Tims pulled two 19-year-old Durham University students to safety after they plunged into the Wear late on Friday night (March 6).

It is said one of the students rugby tackled the other off a wall, causing both to plummet seven feet into the cold water below.

Both were fined for causing alarm to the public. A Durham Police spokeswoman said the pair had been "joking around".

On Monday, around 60 pub, club and bar owners and managers underwent specially commissioned training to help them spot and deal with drunks and pre-loading.

Andrew Nicholson, manager of The Library bar, said: "Everyone is taking this very seriously.

"What's happened is an absolute tragedy. The more people we have involved in communicating what's happening, the more likely we are to stop it happening again."

Mr Collins said pubs and clubs had responded fantastically, but urged students to "think about your own personal safety and behave responsibly".

Three students, Sope Peters, Luke Pearce and Euan Coulthard, died in the Wear between October 2013 and this January, and a fourth was rescued by police.

The City Safety Group has already introduced a drunk tank, now on Claypath; nightbus and taxi services; and a student-led riverside angels support scheme.

Doorstep breath tests will be piloted at seven venues shortly and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) has begun an independent review of riverside safety.

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said she was committed to ensuring the area was safe and achieving an evening economy more appropriate to a World Heritage Site city.

An online fundraising campaign to improve riverside safety closes in three days. Visit justgiving.com/yimby/safetyfordurhamstudents