YORK'S rivers have claimed 24 lives in the past 15 years and there were 35 near misses in 2013/14, a new report has revealed.

Between 1999 and 2014, ten people died in the River Ouse and 14 died in the River Foss, a report to City of York Council next week says.

It says six people entered the Ouse in the city centre, two were believed to have gone in accidentally, two climbed barriers to jump in and drowned accidentally, and two were believed to have committed suicide.

It said that between May 2013 and April 2014 there were about 35 more incidents reported to North Yorkshire Police that were connected to the rivers and involved someone being harmed, but acknowledged this number was "likely to be an underestimate", due to the way such incidents are recorded by police.

Four people have died in York's rivers since January, leading to the launch of The Press' Take Care campaign, along with a River Safety Working Group set up by Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, which features North Yorkshire Police, Fire Service, City of York Council, University of York, York St John University and others.

A River Safety Summit was held in March to address concerns about the safety of the rivers, and another is expected this summer to look at how the group can work together to improve education around the city and try to prevent further tragedy.

The report, which will go before the Safer York Partnership bi-annual performance group next week, also showed that of the incidents recorded:

-Four involved people falling into the river

-20 involved people swimming in the river

-11 people were threatening to jump into the river

-About a third of people involved in the incidents were under 18

-Incidents are reported all year round, but peak in July and August