MEMBERS of a rescue boat team, set up after the deaths of three people in York’s rivers, have taken to the water for the first time.

Volunteers led by Dave Benson took to the River Ouse at Acaster Malbis near York today (Friday, April 3) to try out their new boat and kit.

People gathered to watch as the team put their boat through its paces, along with Jackie Roberts, who has been a supporter of the charity since her daughter Megan died in the Ouse in January 2014.

Dave said: "It's gone brilliantly. We have got quite a few volunteers down and it's a culmination of all of our efforts to show volunteers what their fundraising efforts have come to so far.

"It's quite surreal really. It started off where we were in the back of a crew member's car with a banner and a table and a collection pot, raising £15 at a time. Just over a year on we have a new boat, new kit, and a Land Rover and we're not far off being fully operational - it's really exciting."

The team spent several hours on the water throughout the day, and are due back on the river on Saturday for more practice, ahead of an official launch within the next few months.

Dave said: "The volunteers are all really excited about it so far. Everyone's in the new gear and it's gone really well. We're trying to get as many through the training as we can to get the team brought together, really. It's a year's hard work and we're pretty much there with all the kit and what we need so that's really great."

It comes as Durham City’s Safety Group has commissioned an assessment of riverside safety at the River Wear from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. It follows the deaths of three students in the River Wear since October 2013 and will consider whether to introduce measures next month.

Its chair, Terry Collins, has said while it is examining a range of changes and improvements in city safety, none would replace the need for people to take responsibility for how much they drink.

Students have questioned whether educating students about the dangers of alcohol and other measures to avert drownings in Durham would be effective without measures such as installing fencing alongside the river.