WARNINGS over river safety are being reinforced as thousands of young people arrive in Durham City for Freshers Week today.

As students from around the world start their inductions at Durham University, pubs and nightclubs in the city are expecting some of the busiest nights of the year.

Ahead of their arrival, warnings have been issued in an attempt to avoid further drowning tragedies within the student community.

In the last four years, three young men have been found dead in the River Wear after failing to come home from a night out drinking.

Kevin Lough, Durham County Council’s occupational health and safety manager, said: “Alcohol seriously affects your ability to get yourself out of trouble, so if you’ve had a drink, stay away from water. In particular, don’t walk home near water and make sure you keep an eye out for your friends, make sure they get home safe too.”

PCSO Rebecca Carey said she would give river safety advice to all freshers attending the Durham colleges within the first three days of their arrival.

Owen Adams, pro-vice-chancellor for colleges and student experience, at Durham University, said students would also be briefed on responsible drinking and getting home safely.

In October 2013, Sope Peters, a second year undergraduate student went missing after a night out in Durham. He was found in mid-December in the River Wear.

Seven months later, Luke Pearce, a first year undergraduate student went missing under similar circumstances, and was found a week later in the river.

In January 2015, the body 19-year-old St Mary’s student Euan Coulthard, who, also went missing after a night out in Durham City, was recovered.

Durham City Safety Group was set up after Mr Coulthard’s death to allow organisations to work more closely together to reduce the risk of tragedies. The county council worked with police, the university, fire service, students’ union and cathedral on a range of initiatives.

They have included the introduction of pub door breath tests, better taxi and night bus services and £230,000 of improvements to the riverside.