NO self-respecting student bedsit would be complete without one.

If Che Guevara posters were the enduring symbol of student bedrooms in the 60s and 70s, then today's must-have accessory is the humble traffic cone, which has become as much a part of university life as exams and enormous debts.

But so many have been taken in one university city that police are offering an amnesty to students to return those pilfered in late-night pranks.

In Durham, where students broke up for the summer last week, 40 cones have vanished from the streets in the past two months.

The majority, say police, are suspected to have been lifted by high-spirited students as a trophy after a night out in one of Durham's watering holes.

While many will have been dumped nearby, officers say they believe a significant number are now prized possessions in student houses around the city.

The triangular plastic cones are yellow, with the words Durham Police stamped on them, and are used to restrict parking or access on a temporary basis.

Police community support officer Jean Fletcher said: "It may sound funny, but there is actually a serious issue involved.

"Although each cone typically costs only £4 to replace, the sums add up when you have dozens go missing.

"They are needed on an almost daily basis for traffic management purposes and we would appreciate the help of the public in retrieving as many as possible."

The students, however, insisted they should not be singled out.

A spokesman for Durham University's Students' Union said: "It will be interesting to see just how many have been taken by students."

When pressed, he admitted to being in possession of a traffic cone himself, which was "given to him by a friend".

He said: "Most of the cones in North Road seem to go missing on Friday and Saturday night, rather than the student nights in midweek."