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.

No time to pass judgement

YOU can almost guarantee that this time of year will bring another piece of research suggesting that A-levels are getting easier.

To be honest, we do not know whether they are or not. What we do know, however, is that it is extremely unfair to produce another report at a time when thousands of youngsters are waiting anxiously for their results.

It leaves them in a no-win situation. They get their A-levels and they are immediately undermined. They miss out and their failure is amplified.

Of course, we want to see standards rigorously monitored and qualifications to be fully justified.

But we also want to see students get the credit they are owed. We hope all those who pass their A-levels next week celebrate to the full - just as they deserve to.