THE deaths of two young people York's rivers should serve as a stark warning to those who drink too much in the city centre, a coroner has said.

Megan Roberts and Ben Clarkson died in York within weeks of each other earlier this year.

Coroner Jonathan Leach held their inquests today (Wednesday, October 1) and said their deaths were "a tragic end to two very young lives".

He said: "I'm holding both on the same day to hopefully raise awareness of the dangers both the River Ouse and Foss hold to anyone, whether they fall into the river or enter voluntarily, but particularly to those who have drunk large amounts of alcohol."

Student Megan Roberts had been playing drinking games and had been urged by a friend to go home in the hours before she drowned in the River Ouse, her inquest heard.

The 20-year-old, who was a fine arts student at York St John University, went missing on a night out with friends in January. Her body was found in the water near Acaster Malbis almost six weeks later.

The inquest heard Megan had probably entered the river after becoming disoriented after drinking for several hours at bars around York.

Friend Bethany Robinson said they had been playing drinking games as a group at the student union and they had visited different bars.

Another friend?, Victoria Rose Iveson, said: "Megan was more drunk than I had ever seen her before.

"She was really, really drunk. I kept saying she should go home. But she was saying she was not ready to go home yet."

Post-mortem analysis of Megan's blood showed she was about three and a half times the legal drink-drive limit.

The inquest heard she had drunk four pints of cider and black in the student union bar, then jaeger bombs, strong cocktails ?and spirits.

She was seen on CCTV leaving Popworld nightclub in George Hudson Street in the early hours of Thursday, January 23. She fell over a bike rack and ran past The Maltings pub towards the river.

Her friends did not realise she was no longer with them and continued over Lendal Bridge into the city.

The cause of death was drowning, with a contributing factor of the effects of alcohol, according to Home Office Pathologist Jennifer Bolton.

Coroner Jonathan Leach recorded an open verdict.

Music shop worker Ben Clarkson had drunk a small bottle of rum at home before going out, his inquest heard.

The 22-year-old, a former York St John University student, then carried on drinking with friends at The House of Trembling Madness in Stonegate, on the night of March 1.

The group later went to Fibbers in The Stonebow but Ben left alone. He never made it home, and his body was found in the River Foss on March 21, near Foss Bank.

Coroner Jonathan Leach recorded an open conclusion.

Speaking after today's hearings, Megan's mum Jackie Roberts, who has backed safety campaigns, said her death "highlights dangers of going out and having too much to drink", and she was glad the inquest had finally been heard.