A CAMPAIGN aimed at stopping people being killed by a drink-fuelled punch has been launched.

Punched Out Cold will see officers from Durham Police use strong images of an outline of a figure lying on a pavement and a covered body in a morgue to force people to stop, think and walk away before doing something reckless.

The county-wide project was launched in the Market Place, in Bishop Auckland, yesterday following two deaths in three years outside the Beehive pub.

PC Mick Urwin, alcohol harm reduction officer at Durham Police, said: “We have had a number of needless deaths over the past few years in County Durham and Darlington, where a fight has broken out because of alcohol and a person has used more force that they realised.

“The point of this is that if in the lead up to Christmas you are confronted with a violent situation, stop and think before getting involved.

“Some of those serving prison sentences as a result may have not intended to kill anyone but are now suffering the consequences of their actions.

“Alcohol is not an excuse for violent behaviour – being drunk alters perception and attitude.

“This can lead to someone using more force than they perceive necessary when in a fight and as a result one punch can be fatal.

“The campaign is to help prevent two families from suffering loss – one the death of a family member, the other the loss of a family member who is on the receiving end of a prison sentence.”

Anthony Hancock, 42, died in April, three days after being attacked outside the Beehive pub from a serious brain injury caused when his head hit the pavement.

Lee Ballan, 34, of Lusby Crescent, in Bishop Auckland, was jailed for three years and eight months in August after admitting manslaughter.

Stephen Wilson, 48, was killed by Maurice Rowell, 27, outside the same pub on August 10, 2009.

Rowell, of Hardisty Crescent, Bishop Auckland, was jailed for six years for manslaughter.

Mr Hancock’s sister, Julie Richards, said the victims are very quickly forgotten about.

“People need to be shocked into reality,”she said.

“I think it is a good idea as no one should have to go through what we did.

“Two families suffer when something like this happens and people need to think about the consequences of their actions.”

When John Flannigan was sentenced to only two-andhalf years over the death of soldier Andrew Gibson – who was killed by a single punch while on a night out in Darlington – The Northern Echo launched its Price of a Punch campaign, demanding tougher penalties.

Flannigan served only 15 months in jail.