A CORONER is writing to the owners of a quarry where a swimmer drowned, asking for warning notices to prevent future tragedies.

Andrew Cousins, 22, died on a sweltering day in June when he plunged from 28C sunshine into four metres of 13C water at Greenfoot Quarry, near Stanhope, County Durham.

A cardboard warning sign which read "deep water, hidden hazards" was later found floating in the water where he died.

A notice which said the quarry was private land was put up after the tragedy, an inquest at Bishop Auckland heard yesterday.

Mr Cousins, of Wilson Street, Crook, was celebrating a friend's birthday when he took the fatal leap wearing only shorts and deck shoes.

Friends who had travelled with him from Crook, Ian Snow and Paul Wright, told the hearing they were planning to follow Mr Cousins into the water.

They often went to the quarry on hot days because it was a popular meeting place, they said.

Mr Wright said they jumped over a small wall to get in, but there was a public footpath on one side and no indication that it was private property. Other people were swimming at the time.

PC Helen Pearson was called to the scene, where she was shown the floating sign. She said: "The quarry is quite an attraction for people, on hot days in particular."

Northumbria police diver PC Michael Parker, who found Mr Cousins' body four metres below the surface, said there had been a vast difference in temperature between the air and the water.

Coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death. He said: "I am writing to the owners of the property asking them to ensure that the proper notices are displayed.

"There need to be indications of danger if there is danger present."

Mr Penna said that Mr Cousin's blood alcohol level of almost three times the legal driving limit may have affected his reactions.

Mr Cousins' father, Trevor, who worked with him in the family business C and C Block Paving, of Newton Aycliffe, said there should have been a Health and Safety Executive investigation.