THE death of 15-year-old Christopher Glen will send a shiver down the spines of parents everywhere.

Hardly a summer goes by without similar tragedies hitting the headlines. Children are attracted to water, they take risks, and young lives are lost - 341 in this country last year.

The clear message from the emergency services has been that Cleasby Deeps - the stretch of river on the outskirts of Darlington where Christopher died - is a particularly dangerous spot, with strong undercurrents capable of dragging children beneath the water.

We therefore welcome the pledge from Darlington Borough Council that it will take whatever steps are necessary to alert youngsters to the danger.

Cleasby Deeps has taken one life and warning signs must now be erected to guard against the tragedy being repeated.

But the council is also right to highlight the need for a continuing education programme to hammer home the message that rivers - while often looking idyllic and inviting - are also potential killers.

We hope that the Christopher Glen tragedy will inspire all authorities and individuals owning stretches of river to carry out safety reviews to check if any steps can be taken - no matter how small - in a bid to reduce the death toll.