DURHAM University students will receive safety tips and advice on beating crime when the term begins on October 1.

Police in the city are preparing to give their annual advice to students studying in Durham.

PC Dave Hemmingway, university liaison officer, said police wanted to ensure that youngsters enjoyed a trouble-free stay in the city.

Students will be given advice on how to stop burglars, and on enjoying the city's nightlife in safety.

Crimes committed against Durham students are falling.

There were 192 reported offences between January and August 1999, compared to 124 in the same period this year.

PC Hemmingway said: "We want to get across that Durham is a safe place to live and study.

"The vast majority of the new students will be 18 and in the big wide world for the first time, so we try to reinforce the dos and the don'ts.

"Burglary and theft are the main problems, and we would advise them not to leave their windows open or leave a bag lying around.

"They should also be careful where they leave drinks lying around and should not drink too much, because if they do somebody could take advantage of them."

PC Hemmingway said police would be reinforcing the crime prevention message to students throughout the year.

Durham University has its own counselling service for any students experiencing problems.